METHODS: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of 211 anterior mandibular teeth were analyzed in sagittal slices to measure the thickness of the facial alveolar bone crest (FAB1) and apex (FAB2), and the lingual alveolar bone crest (LAB1) and apex (LAB2). Tooth angulation was classified as 1°-10°, 11°-20°, and >20° according to the tooth's long axis and alveolar bone wall. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to evaluate correlations between the variables.
RESULTS: FAB1 and LAB1 were predominantly thin (<1 mm) (84.4% and 73.4%, respectively), with the lateral incisors being thinnest. At the apical level, FAB2 and LAB2 were thick in 99.5% and 99.1% of cases, respectively. Significant differences were documented in FAB2 (P=0.004), LAB1 (P=0.001), and LAB2 (P=0.001) of all mandibular teeth. At all apical levels of the inspected teeth, a significant negative correlation existed between TA and FAB2. Meanwhile, TA showed a significant positive correlation with LAB2 of the lateral incisors and canines. These patterns were then divided into class I (thick facial and lingual alveolar bone), class II (facially inclined teeth) with subtype A (1°-10°) and subtype B (11°-20°), and class III (lingually inclined teeth) with subtype A (1°-10°) and subtype B (11°-20°).
CONCLUSIONS: Mandibular anterior teeth have predominantly thin facial and lingual crests, making the lingual bone apical thickness crucial for IIP. Although anchorage can be obtained from lingual bone, tooth angulation and tooth types had an impact on IIP planning. Hence, the new classification based on TA and alveolar bone wall may enable rational clinical planning for IIP treatment.
Method: Maxillary CBCT images of two-hundred-and-fifty-seven consecutive patients (163 men, 94 women, mean age 42 years) were analyzed. Samples were later divided into dentate (n = 142) and posteriorly edentulous (n = 115) jaws. Using both alveolar ridge and tooth location as reference points, the distance and diameter of IA were assessed.
Result: The IA was seen in 63.7% of all sinuses with 68.2% in dentate and 62.4% in edentulous. Mean distance and diameter of IA across the posterior tooth locations were 17.9 ± 3.0 mm and 1.4 ± 0.5 mm (dentate) and 15.1 ± 3.0 mm and 1.0 ± 0.5 mm (posteriorly edentulous), respectively. In each sample, there were no significant differences in distance-alveolar ridge and no significant correlations in diameter-tooth location. A statistically significant Pearson coefficient correlation between diameter and distance in dentate state was observed (r = -0.6).
Conclusion: This study reveals that dentate maxillary jaws present larger diameters as compared to posteriorly edentulous jaws, although the IA course remains the same. As these canal structures contain neurovascular bundles with diameters that may be large enough to cause clinically substantial complications, a thorough pre-surgical planning is therefore highly advisable.