title: Anterior maxilla alveolar ridge dimension and morphology measurement by cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) for immediate implant treatment planning.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Implants have been widely used to restore missing teeth. Limited information on applied anatomy at the anterior maxilla compromises the clinical outcome for implant placement in this region. In the current study, Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) was used to measure alveolar ridge and buccal undercut dimension at the anterior maxilla to help develop treatment planning for immediate implant placement.
  
  
  METHODS
  CBCT scans were screened to include 51 subjects with full dentition at right maxilla. Measurements were taken at the cross sectional views in the middle of the maxillary right central incisor, lateral incisor, and canine regions. Alveolar height was measured from the alveolar crest to floor of nasal fossa. Alveolar width was measured from the buccal to palatal cortical plate at the coronal, middle, and apical third of the distance from the alveolar crest to floor of the nasal fossa. Buccal undercut location was measured from where the buccal cortical plate started dipping to a line extending at the alveolar crest that was perpendicular to the long axis of the alveolar ridge. The buccal undercut depth was measured from the deepest point of the undercut at the buccal plate to a line tangent to the buccal plate paralleling the long axis of ridge.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Alveolar width increased from coronal to apical direction for each tooth. Mean alveolar widths (mm) were: central incisor, 9.55; lateral incisor, 8.30; canine, 9.62. The lateral incisor had a significantly smaller alveolar width than the other anterior teeth. No significant difference in ridge height was noted among the teeth. Undercut locations from the alveolar crest (mm) were: central incisor, 5.84; lateral incisor, 3.59; canine, 5.11. Undercut depths (mm) were: central incisor, 0.76; lateral incisor, 0.87; canine, 0.73. The percentages of teeth with buccal undercuts were: central incisor, 41%, lateral incisor, 77%, and canine 33%. Male demonstrate significant larger ridge width compared with females for all three teeth.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At anterior maxilla, the lateral incisor has the thinnest alveolar bone, and most frequently exhibits a buccal undercut which is the closest to alveolar ridge compared with other maxillary anterior teeth.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, 7500 Cambridge Street, Houston, TX, 77054, USA. Wenjian.Zhang@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Wenjian
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Junior Dental Student, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, 7500 Cambridge Street, Houston, TX, 77054, USA. Adam.M.Skrypczak@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Skrypczak
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics and Dental Hygiene, The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston, 7500 Cambridge Street, Houston, TX, 77054, USA. Robin.L.Weltman@uth.tmc.edu.
authors.forename: Robin
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weltman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D019412:Anatomy, Cross-Sectional / Q000379:methods; D002508:Cephalometry / Q000379:methods*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003481:Cuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003724:Dental Arch / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult