The relationship between radiographic measurements of alveolar bone in posterior single-tooth edentulous regions and non-alveolar jawbones using multidetector computed tomography.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between radiographic measurements of the alveolar bone in posterior single-tooth edentulous regions and radiographic measurements of non-alveolar jawbones using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT).

Methods: The sample consisted of 47 patients aged between 20 and 42 years who underwent MDCT. All patients had a posterior single-tooth edentulous region. Extraction was performed 1-8 years ago at the time of inclusion (mean = 3.2). The alveolar bone in the edentulous region and non-alveolar bone regions (maxillary tuberosity, condyles, inferior to the mandibular foramen, and mandibular angle) were studied radiographically (radiographic density, dimensions, and cortical bone ratio). Pearson correlation, independent sample t test, and linear regression analysis were used for the statistical analysis.

Results: Radiographic density of the alveolar bone (measured in the axial or buccolingual directions) correlated significantly with that of the maxillary tuberosity (0.3 < r < 0.4; P value ≥ 0.001) and, to a lesser extent, with the radiographic density of the region inferior to the mental foramen (r ≈ 0.3). Based on these correlation coefficients, non-alveolar bone density could explain 10-16% of the alveolar bone density after extraction according to linear regression analysis.

Conclusions: This study revealed that alveolar bone radiographic density was correlated with that of the maxillary tuberosity and inferior to the mental foramen region. Accordingly, linear regression models were suggested to aid in predicting future alveolar bone density in areas where extraction is to be performed.