The Prevalence of Alveolar Ridge Defects According to Seibert's Classification: A Cross-Sectional Study

Area of Science:

• Dental Implantology
• Prosthodontics
• Periodontology

Background:

• Alveolar ridge defects pose challenges in prosthodontic treatment planning for partially edentulous patients.
• Seibert's classification system categorizes defects by dimensions, guiding treatment strategies for implants or prostheses.
• Accurate classification is essential for successful prosthetic rehabilitation and tissue augmentation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and classify alveolar ridge tissue defects in partially edentulous patients using Seibert's classification system.
• To determine the prevalence of different alveolar ridge defect classes.
• To investigate potential associations between demographic factors and defect classification.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 122 partially edentulous patients aged 18+ requiring prosthodontic treatment.
• Exclusion criteria included systemic conditions, complete edentulism, and active periodontal infections.
• Alveolar ridge dimensions were measured using digital calipers, and defects were classified according to Seibert's criteria.

Main Results:

• Class III defects were most prevalent (58.2%), followed by Class I (27.0%) and Class II (14.8%).
• No significant association was found between patient sex and the classification of alveolar ridge defects (p=0.410).
• The study included 122 participants, with a slight male predominance (53.3%).

Conclusions:

• The high prevalence of Class III defects necessitates specialized treatment approaches in prosthetic rehabilitation.
• Gender did not significantly influence the classification of alveolar ridge defects.
• Further research into demographic factors is recommended to refine understanding and treatment strategies for alveolar ridge defects.