Analysis of the dimensions of buccal and palatal bone wall in the maxillary anterior esthetic zone: a cone-beam computed tomography study

Abstract Background The aim of this study was to analyze the buccal and palatal alveolar thickness and morphologic features of relatively healthy maxillary anterior teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods Buccal and palatal bone thickness at central incisors, lateral incisors and canines was measured at four reference lines on CBCT scans of 1824 Chinese patients (152 males and 152 females). Alveolar bone thickness (ABT), sagittal root position (SRP), the angulation between the axis of the teeth and the alveolar process, and the inclination of the anterior teeth in the alveolar socket were measured using 3-dimensional imaging software. Results The thickness of buccal maxillary anterior alveolar bone thickness was 57.59% less than 1mm, and decreased with age. Bone thickness was greater in males than in females. The buccal and palatal ABT of the central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines were significantly different between males and females. The buccal ABT of females decreased with age. The SRP classification was significantly different in age distribution, regardless of gender. The SRP was significantly correlated with the buccal and palatal ABT in the apex. The angulation between the axis of the teeth and the alveolar process increased with age. The inclination of the anterior teeth in the male was significantly greater than that in the female. Conclusions Preoperative analysis using CBCT may be beneficial for establishing the treatment planning because the buccal and palatal alveolar bone thickness is associated with age and gender, as well as the position relationship between the tooth root and alveolar bone.