Qualitative and morphological evaluation of the mandibular bone using computed tomography.

Area of Science:

• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery
• Dental Implantology
• Radiology

Background:

• Accurate assessment of mandibular bone quantity (cortical and cancellous) is crucial for dental implant placement.
• Buccal or lingual cortical plate perforations can lead to complications, especially with lingual undercuts.
• Computed tomography (CT) imaging offers a method to evaluate mandibular bone thickness and morphology, reducing risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the thickness of buccal and lingual cortical plates and cancellous bone in the mandible.
• To analyze gender variations in cortical and cancellous bone thickness.
• To determine the morphology and shape of the mandible.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective study utilizing CT scan images of 30 patients (22 males, 8 females).
• Measurements of cortical and cancellous bone thickness were taken at specific points relative to the mental foramen and basal bone.
• Analysis included assessment of buccal and lingual cortical bone shape.

Main Results:

• Cortical bone was thicker in the anterior mandible compared to the posterior, with peak thickness at 20 mm from the basal bone.
• Cancellous bone thickness was greatest at 5 mm from the basal bone.
• Common shapes included Type A buccal concavity in males (anterior) and Type C in females (posterior).

Conclusions:

• Lingual concavity presents significant challenges during implant placement, particularly if perforations occur.
• Lingual cortical plates are thicker than buccal plates, and the anterior mandible exhibits concavity.
• CT imaging is valuable for characterizing mandibular bone quantity and morphology, aiding in pre-surgical planning.