Three-dimensional interpretation of alveolar bone dehiscences. An anatomical-radiological study--Part I.

In an anatomical-radiological in-vitro study dental radiographs were compared with axial, sagittal and coronal CT-scans, with respect to the identification and quantitative assessment of bone dehiscences and the buccal or lingual bone plates over the roots of the teeth. After removal of soft tissue and metallic restorations in 16 dentate jaw specimens, 60 lingual or buccal defects of different dimensions were artificially created over the roots. None of the defects could be identified on conventional dental radiographs. In contrast, 42 of the 60 (70%) artificial defects were identified in the CT-scans. Identification and demarcation of the facial/lingual bone plate depends on the orientation of the CT-scanning, the visibility of the periodontal ligament space, the dimension of the defect, and the thickness and histological structure of the adjacent bone. A visible periodontal ligament space improves the measuring accuracy of buccal or lingual bone plates up to 0.2 mm.