A cephalometric study of mandibular cortical bone thickness in dentulous persons and denture wearers

Cephalometric measurements of the cortical thickness of the inferior mandibular border and the inferior aspect of the mandibular symphysis were compared in two groups of subjects, one with complete dentition and the other wearing complete maxillary and mandibular dentures. Although the cortical thickness of the inferior mandibular border increased slightly with age in both dentition groups, the cortical thickness was significantly less in denture groups than in their respective dentition groups. The opposite was true with the cortical thickness of the inferior aspect of the mandibular symphysis; a decrease in thickness was noted with age, and a slight increase in thickness was noted with edentulousness. The results suggest that bone remodeling can be expected at sites distant from the residual ridge in denture wearers.