Similarities in resorption patterns of maxillary and mandibular ridges

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Prosthodontics

Background:

• Edentulism, the condition of being toothless, affects the maxilla and mandible.
• Denture wear is common in edentulous patients.
• Alveolar bone resorption is a significant consequence of edentulism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between posterior maxillary and mandibular arch widths in edentulous patients.
• To quantify mandibular height reduction following tooth extraction.
• To analyze how resorption and denture wear influence these dimensions.

Main Methods:

• Studied 100 edentulous denture-wearers.
• Utilized panoramic radiographs for 67 patients.
• Assessed posterior arch widths and mandibular height reduction.

Main Results:

• Mandibular arch width consistently exceeds maxillary arch width in the molar region by 6-7 mm post-resorption.
• No progressive widening of the mandible or increase in maxillomandibular width with resorption.
• Mandibular alveolar resorption rate is highest initially, slowing over time with bone loss and denture use.

Conclusions:

• Mandibular arch width is predictably larger than maxillary arch width in edentulous individuals.
• Mandibular resorption rate is highest in early edentulism and decelerates with time and denture use.
• Resorption patterns do not lead to progressive widening of the mandible relative to the maxilla.