Quantification of the lamina dura

Area of Science:

• Dentistry and Oral Radiology

Background:

• The lamina dura's presence is often described dichotomously (present/absent).
• Its precise quantitative characteristics remain poorly understood in dental radiology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the thickness of the lamina dura.
• To investigate regional variations in lamina dura thickness within the oral cavity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized digitized radiographs of healthy adult patients.
• Measured lamina dura thickness in anterior and posterior dental regions.

Main Results:

• Identified measurable differences in lamina dura thickness.
• Average lamina dura widths ranged from 0.22 mm to 0.54 mm.
• Thickness varied between anterior and posterior teeth.

Conclusions:

• The lamina dura exhibits quantifiable regional thickness variations.
• These findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the lamina dura in dental imaging.