title: Radiographic study of ethnic variation in alveolar bone height among New Zealand dental students.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to determine anatomical variations in the radiographic distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar crest with respect to ethnic heritage and gender in New Zealand dental students.
  
  
  METHODS
  Digitized bitewing films of 123 second-year New Zealand dental students were examined with a computer imaging program on a desktop computer screen. The race of parents and grandparents was obtained by questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean distance from the cemento-enamel junction to the alveolar crest across the sample was 0.97 mm. Eighteen (14.6%) of the participants had measurements >2 mm, of whom 17 were Asians. Asians had a significantly larger mean distance than did non-Asians (1.10 mm compared to 0.83 mm; P <0.001). Gender was not a significant variable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Students of Asian origin had a significantly greater distance between the cemento-enamel junction and the alveolar crest. It remains to be determined whether this is anatomical or disease related.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Rehabilitation, University of Otago School of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Benedicta K J
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.forename: Jonathan W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Leichter
authors.forename: Nick P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Chandler
authors.forename: Mary P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Cullinan
authors.forename: Doug W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Holborow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D044466:Asian People; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008963:Molar / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009520:New Zealand; D011859:Radiography; D012737:Sex Factors; D019237:Tooth Cervix / Q000033:anatomy & histology* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging