Bone dehiscences and fenestrations of the anterior mandibular facial bone wall: a retrospective cone beam computed tomography study.

BACKGROUND: To calculate the prevalence of dehiscences and fenestrations and measure the buccal alveolar bone width overlying healthy mandibular incisors and canines. METHODS: Cone beam computerized tomographies (CBCTs) from patients aged 18 to 30 years were selected from a private database. The thickness of buccal bone in the sagittal scan was measured perpendicular to the long axis of 6 teeth at two locations: at the crest level and at the mid-root level. A single calibrated examiner performed all measurements. Descriptive and inferential statistics were performed. RESULTS: A total of 100 CBCTs (600 teeth) were selected for the analysis. The overall prevalence of dehiscences and fenestrations was 89.16% and 5.16%, respectively. Dehiscences and fenestrations were shown to have a mean length of 6.78+/-1.90 mm and 4.89+/-1.74 mm, respectively. This result was similar between young and old subjects as well as between men and women. Bone width at the crest level was significantly thinner in women (0.71+/-0.13 mm), whereas men were found to have a statistically significant thicker bone at the mid-root level of tooth #33. Comparisons of bone width at the mid-root level among the 6 analyzed teeth showed no statistical difference. CONCLUSIONS: A high prevalence of dehiscences and sites with thin buccal bone were identified in correspondence of the lower anterior teeth by means of CBCT analysis.