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Quantification of the apical palatal bone index for maxillary incisor immediate implant assessment: A retrospective
Zhuwei Huang1, Jiamin Shi1, Guangqi Gao1
1Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology and Guangdong Research Center for Dental and Cranial Rehabilitation and Material Engineering, Guangzhou, 510055, China.
Background:
Apical palatal bone is important in immediate implant evaluation. Current consensus gives qualitative suggestions regarding it, limiting its clinical decision-making value.
Objectives:
To quantify the apical palatal bone dimension in maxillary incisors and reveal its quantitative correlation with other implant-related hard tissue indices to give practical advice for pre-immediate implant evaluation and design.
Material And Methods:
A retrospective analysis of immediate implant-related hard tissue indices in maxillary incisors obtained by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was conducted. Palatal bone thickness at the apex level (Apical-P) on the sagittal section was selected as a parameter reflecting the apical palatal bone. Its quantitative correlation with other immediate implant-related hard tissue indices was revealed. Clinical advice of pre-immediate implant assessment was given based on the quantitative classification of Apical-P and its other correlated immediate implant-related hard tissue indices.
Results:
Apical-P positively correlated with cervical palatal bone, whole cervical buccal-palatal bone, sagittal root angle, and basal bone width indices. while negatively correlated with apical buccal bone, cervical buccal bone, and basal bone length indices. Six quantitative categories of Apical-P are proposed. Cases with Apical-P below 4 mm had an insufficient apical bone thickness to accommodate the implant placement, while Apical-P beyond 12 mm should be cautious about the severe implant inclination. Cases with Apical-P of 4-12 mm can generally achieve satisfying immediate implant outcomes via regulating the implant inclination.
Conclusions:
Quantification of the apical palatal bone index for maxillary incisor immediate implant assessment can be achieved, providing a quantitative guide for immediate implant placement in the maxillary incisor zone.
