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Updated: Feb 14, 2026
Author Spotlight: Three-Dimensional Cephalometric Landmark Annotation Demonstration on Human Cone Beam Computed Tomography Scans
Published on: September 8, 2023
Bone dehiscences and fenestrations of the anterior mandibular facial bone wall: a retrospective cone beam computed
Andrea Pilloni1, Roberto Rotundo2, Gianluca Gambarini3
1Department of Periodontology, "Sapienza" University, Rome, Italy.
Background:
To calculate the prevalence of dehiscences and fenestrations and measure the buccal alveolar bone width overlying healthy mandibular incisors and canines.
Methods:
Cone beam computerized tomographies (CBCTs) from patients aged 18 to 30 years were selected from a private database. The thickness of buccal bone in the sagittal scan was measured perpendicular to the long axis of 6 teeth at two locations: at the crest level and at the mid-root level. A single calibrated examiner performed all measurements. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed.
Results:
A total of 100 CBCTs (600 teeth) were selected for the analysis. The overall prevalence of dehiscences and fenestrations was 89.16% and 5.16%, respectively. Dehiscences and fenestrations were shown to have a mean length of 6.78±1.90 mm and 4.89±1.74 mm, respectively. This result was similar between young and old subjects as well as between men and women. Bone width at the crest level was significantly thinner in women (0.71±0.13 mm), whereas men were found to have a statistically significant thicker bone at the mid-root level of tooth #33. Comparisons of bone width at the mid-root level among the 6 analyzed teeth showed no statistical difference.
Conclusions:
A high prevalence of dehiscences and sites with thin buccal bone were identified in correspondence of the lower anterior teeth by means of CBCT analysis.
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