title: The three-dimensional microstructure of trabecular bone: Analysis of site-specific variation in the human jaw bone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was performed to analyze human maxillary and mandibular trabecular bone using the data acquired from micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), and to characterize the site-specific microstructures of trabeculae.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-nine cylindrical bone specimens were prepared from the mandible and maxilla. They were divided into 5 groups by region: the anterior maxilla, posterior maxilla, anterior mandible, posterior mandible, and mandibular condyle. After the specimens were scanned using a micro-CT system, three-dimensional microstructural parameters such as the percent bone volume, bone specific surface, trabecular thickness, trabecular separation, trabecular number, structure model index, and degrees of anisotropy were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among the regions other than the condylar area, the anterior mandibular region showed the highest trabecular thickness and the lowest value for the bone specific surface. On the other hand, the posterior maxilla region showed the lowest trabecular thickness and the highest value for the bone specific surface. The degree of anisotropy was lowest at the anterior mandible. The condyle showed thinner trabeculae with a more anisotropic arrangement than the other mandibular regions.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There were microstructural differences between the regions of the maxilla and mandible. These results suggested that different mechanisms of external force might exist at each site.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Jo-Eun
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ilsan Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Goyang, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Myung
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.affiliation: A Plus Dental Clinic, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sung-Ook
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Oh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Won-Jin
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Suk
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Heo
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Sam-Sun
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soon-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and Dental Research Institute, School of Dentistry, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Hoe
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Huh
keywords: Humans; Jaw; Micro-CT; Microstructure; Three-Dimensional Image