title: The thickness of alveolar bone at the maxillary canine and premolar teeth in normal occlusion.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The main purpose of this study was to investigate bone thickness on the buccal and palatal aspects of the maxillary canine and premolars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The differences between left- and right-side measurements and between males and females were also analyzed.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample consisted of 20 subjects (9 males and 11 females; mean age, 21.9±3.0) selected from the normal occlusion sample data in the Department of Orthodontics, The Catholic University of Korea. The thickness of the buccal and palatal bone walls, perpendicular to the long axis of the root were evaluated at 3 mm and 5 mm apical to cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and at root apex.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At the canines and first premolars regions, mean buccal bone thickness of at 3 mm and 5 mm apical to CEJ were less than 2 mm. In contrast, at the second premolar region, mean buccal bone thickness at 3 mm and 5 mm apical from CEJ were greater than 2 mm. Frequency of thick bone wall (≥2 mm) increased from the canine to the second premolar.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This result should be considered before tooth extraction and planning of rehabilitation in the canine and premolar area of maxilla. Careful preoperative analysis with CBCT may be beneficial to assess local risk factors and to achieve high predictability of success in implant therapy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Seong-Ho
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Jun-Beom
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Namryang
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seojin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyung Jae
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoonji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Yoon-Ah
authors.initials: YA
authors.lastname: Kook
authors.forename: Youngkyung
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ko