Radiographic features of anterior buccal mandibular depression in modern human cadavers

The anterior buccal mandibular depression (ABMD) becomes significant when evaluating edentulous patients prior to implant insertion. The features of the ABMD in dry mandibles from ancient populations have been reported. In the present study the prevalence and radiological appearance of the ABMD and the influence of soft tissue superposition on its radiological detectability in the jaws of modern human cadavers were evaluated. The prevalence of ABMD was 32%. The presence of soft tissue significantly influenced the radiopacity of the ABMD area and the degree of definition of the borders (p=0.0003 and 0.0001 respectively). Changes in the trabecular pattern were observed in 36% of the cases without soft tissue compared with 29% with soft tissue. The ABMD was more readily detected on CT scans than on conventional periapical or panoramic radiographs.