A cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study of buccal plate thickness of the maxillary and mandibular posterior dentition

• Published in: Clinical oral implants research Vol. 27; no. 9; pp. 1072 - 1078
• Main Authors: Temple, Kayleigh E., Schoolfield, John, Noujeim, Marcel E., Huynh-Ba, Guy, Lasho, David J., Mealey, Brian L.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Denmark Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.09.2016
• Subjects: Adult; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Alveolar Process - diagnostic imaging; anatomy; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; dental implant; Female; Humans; Male; mandible; Mandible - diagnostic imaging; maxilla; Maxilla - diagnostic imaging; Middle Aged; Molar - diagnostic imaging; Sex Factors; tooth extraction; Tooth Root - diagnostic imaging; Young Adult; mandible; anatomy; maxilla; tooth extraction; cone beam computed tomography; dental implant
• ISSN: 0905-7161; 1600-0501; 1600-0501
• DOI: 10.1111/clr.12688

Background Buccal plate thickness is of clinical importance in treatment planning for implants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the buccal plate thickness in posterior dentate areas of both the maxilla and mandible using cone beam computed tomography in order to estimate the approximate distributions of this anatomic variable. Methods Two hundred and sixty‐five subjects were included for a total of nine hundred and thirty‐four roots assessed by cone beam computed tomography. CBCT scans were taken and evaluated at the ideal buccolingual cross‐sections of each root at 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm apical to the alveolar crest to measure buccal plate thickness. Data are reported by geometric means and 95% confidence intervals. Results Both arches demonstrated increasing buccal plate thickness from anterior to posterior. Maxillary teeth had a significant decrease in thickness from coronal to apical along the tooth root (P < 0.001), except at second molars. The first premolar and mesial root of the first molar were significantly thinner than all other roots in the maxilla. Conversely, the mandible demonstrated a significant increase in buccal plate thickness from coronal to apical (P < 0.001). The premolars were significantly thinner than all other roots. Age and sex were found to have limited impact on buccal plate thickness in both arches. Conclusions Buccal plate thickness is highly dependent upon the arch position, tooth location, and measurement point, but age and sex have limited impact.