Assessment of buccal and lingual alveolar bone width in the posterior region at dentate and edentulous sites: A cone-beam computed tomography study

BACKGROUND: Alveolar bone dimensions form an important prognostic factor in determining the success of implant treatment outcome. The present study evaluated the buccal and lingual bone width in posterior dentate and edentulous sites using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 100 patients, divided equally into two groups, Group A (males) and Group B (females) indicated for implant therapy. CBCT scans were evaluated for the assessment of the thickness of buccal and lingual bone width at four levels, i.e., crestal bone width (CBW), mid root bone width, middle of alveolar bone housing bone width , and most apical portion bone width (APBW). Bone width was measured at three levels in the edentulous region as CBW, bone width 5 mm from crest (CBW-1), and 10 mm from crest (CBW-2). RESULTS: Gradual increase in bone width was observed from crestal bone at buccal and lingual level (CBW-B and CBW-L) from 1.10 ± 0.29 mm and 1.21 ± 0.34 mm to APBW at buccal and APBW lingual side from 2.82 ± 0.51 mm and 3.43 ± 0.42 mm, respectively. For both the groups, the differences in bone width at three levels were statistically significant, with CBW being significantly higher for Group A than Group B. CONCLUSION: At edentulous sites, CBW was lesser as compared to the apical levels. The bone width on buccal and lingual sides of dentate sites at the coronal level is minimal compared to the apical level, which has definite implications for implant therapeutics.