title: A cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study of buccal plate thickness of the maxillary and mandibular posterior dentition.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Buccal plate thickness is of clinical importance in treatment planning for implants. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the buccal plate thickness in posterior dentate areas of both the maxilla and mandible using cone beam computed tomography in order to estimate the approximate distributions of this anatomic variable.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two hundred and sixty-five subjects were included for a total of nine hundred and thirty-four roots assessed by cone beam computed tomography. CBCT scans were taken and evaluated at the ideal buccolingual cross-sections of each root at 1 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm apical to the alveolar crest to measure buccal plate thickness. Data are reported by geometric means and 95% confidence intervals.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Both arches demonstrated increasing buccal plate thickness from anterior to posterior. Maxillary teeth had a significant decrease in thickness from coronal to apical along the tooth root (P < 0.001), except at second molars. The first premolar and mesial root of the first molar were significantly thinner than all other roots in the maxilla. Conversely, the mandible demonstrated a significant increase in buccal plate thickness from coronal to apical (P < 0.001). The premolars were significantly thinner than all other roots. Age and sex were found to have limited impact on buccal plate thickness in both arches.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buccal plate thickness is highly dependent upon the arch position, tooth location, and measurement point, but age and sex have limited impact.
authors.affiliation: Private Practice, Tyler, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Kayleigh E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Temple
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schoolfield
authors.affiliation: Department of Comprehensive Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Marcel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Noujeim
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Huynh-Ba
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lasho
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA.
authors.forename: Brian L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Mealey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008437:Maxilla / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D008963:Molar / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012737:Sex Factors; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: anatomy; cone beam computed tomography; dental implant; mandible; maxilla; tooth extraction