Variations in crestal cortical bone thickness at dental implant sites in different regions of the jawbone.

BACKGROUND: Dental implants have become reliable and predictable tools for treating missing teeth. The survival rate of dental implants is markedly influenced by the host bone quality and quantity of the jawbone. A better host bone provides higher initial stability of the dental implant, resulting in better osseointegration and a higher success rate. Host bone quality and quantity are determined by the crestal cortical bone thickness and inner cancellous bone density.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to determine the crestal cortical bone thickness at dental implant sites in different regions of the jawbone through the use of dental cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 661 dental implant sites (81 in the anterior mandible, 122 in the anterior maxilla, 224 in the posterior mandible, and 234 in the posterior maxilla) were obtained from the jawbones of 173 humans. The data were subjected to statistical analysis to determine any correlation between crestal cortical bone thicknesses and jawbone regions using one-way analysis of variance with Tukey's post-test.

RESULTS: The crestal cortical bone thicknesses at dental implant sites in the four regions decreased in the following order: posterior mandible (1.07 ± 0.47 mm, mean ± SD) >anterior mandible (0.99 ± 0.36 mm) >anterior maxilla (0.82 ± 0.30 mm) >posterior maxilla (0.75 ± 0.35 mm).

CONCLUSION: The dental CBCT data demonstrate that crestal cortical bone thickness varies markedly between dental implant sites in the four regions of the jawbone.