Distribution of Trabecular Bone Density in the Maxilla and Mandible

Implant osseointegration is strongly influenced by the bone quality at the implant insertion site. The present work aims to create distribution diagrams showing the average bone density at each position within the jaws.

Data were retrospectively collected from 4 oral surgeons who sought bone-density measurements during implant placement using a torque-measuring implant micromotor. Statistical analyses were performed to investigate whether bone density correlated with the patients' sex and age and whether the bone-density values at different positions within each arch correlated to each other.

Records of 2408 patients and 6060 bone-density readings were retrieved, and density distribution diagrams were created. Density values showed a significant variation within subjects. Within the same jaw, density between adjacent positions showed significant differences. Density at a given position correlated significantly with that at the other positions in most cases. Bone density was significantly lower in women than in men; no significant correlation was found between bone density and the patient age.

Bone density of patients displays significant interindividual variation, thus meaningful assessment must be conducted on a patient-by-patient basis.