The edentulous maxillary alveolar process in the region of the maxillary sinus — A study of physical dimension

• Published in: International journal of oral and maxillofacial surgery Vol. 24; no. 4; pp. 279 - 282
• Main Authors: Ulm, C.W., Solar, P., Gselimann, B., Matejka, M., Watzek, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Ltd 01.08.1995; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alveolar Process - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; bone volume; Cephalometry; Dental Implantation, Endosseous; Dental Implants; Dentistry; edentulous posterior maxilla; endosseous implants; Facial bones, jaws, teeth, parodontium: diseases, semeiology; Female; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; Jaw, Edentulous - pathology; Jaw, Edentulous, Partially - pathology; Male; Maxilla - pathology; Maxillary Diseases - pathology; maxillary sinus; Maxillary Sinus - pathology; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Non tumoral diseases; Osteoporosis - pathology; Otorhinolaryngology. Stomatology; Time Factors; edentulous posterior maxilla; maxillary sinus; bone volume; endosseous implants; Measurement; Edentulousness; Implant; Stomatology; Dental disease; Maxillary; Postmortem; Resorption; Dimension; Histological section; Photography; Surgery; Bone; Morphometry; Tooth alveolus
• ISSN: 0901-5027; 1399-0020
• DOI: 10.1016/S0901-5027(95)80029-8

From 47 anatomic specimens, vertical sections were cut in the molar region, and computer-assisted measurements of both height and width of the alveolar ridge were made to assess the available bone volume for endosseous implant placement. The mean ridge heights ranged between 9.30 and 3.23 mm, the highest and lowest values being 13.8 and 0.8 mm, respectively. The ridge widths generally proved to be sufficient for placement of endosseous implants. Small knife-edge ridges are rarely found in the posterior maxilla. Reduction of the cancellous portion of the posterior maxilla seems to be influenced by the duration of edentulousness, as well as by osteoporotic changes, without being directly related to ridge configuration and bone volume.