Buccal bone thickness of maxillary anterior teeth: A systematic review and meta-analysis

To systematically review buccal bone thickness (BBT) in the anterior maxilla in different teeth, age groups and genders.

PubMed, EMBASE and Cochrane databases were searched up to April 2020. Clinical and radiographic studies reporting on BBT of maxillary anterior teeth, with at least 10 patients, were included. A meta-analysis was performed using random effect models to report differences of BBT.

50 studies were included. Using bone crest (BC) as a reference point, no significant differences were found in BBT between different tooth types, except for 0.16 mm (95%-CI: 0.02-0.30) increased mid-root thickness of premolars compared to canines. Using the CEJ as a reference point, canines presented with a significantly increased thickness of 0.32 mm (95%-CI: 0.11-0.54) coronally compared to laterals. When BC was used as reference, males demonstrated a significantly increased thickness of 0.21 mm (95%-CI: 0.15-0.27) apically, while middle-aged adults showed a 0.06 mm (95%-CI: -0.12, -0.01) statistically significant increase in the coronal level compared to older adults.

Few maxillary anterior teeth have BBT greater than 1 mm. Buccal bone tends to get thicker from a coronal to apical position along the root surface and from an anterior to posterior position in the arch.