Bone quality and quantity of the anterior maxillary trabecular bone in dental implant sites

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the characteristics of implant sites on the edentulous alveolar ridge in the anterior maxilla. We studied the bone quantity and quality of implant sites at the anterior maxilla using CT images for the 33 implant sites on patients who underwent dental implant therapy in our Department since 2006. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Computed tomography (CT) images of 33 patients (20 women: 13 men) encompassing 33 implant sites were chosen and examined. The recipient sites for implant placement were determined based on CT data using an implant planning software (Simplant 11.0). The mean bone density values in Hounsfield unit (HU) were recorded using Simplant for both the simulated implant areas and the trabecular bone width. We classified the edentulous alveolar ridge and bone quality according to a classification based on Lekholm and Zarb (1985). RESULTS: Incisors had higher bone densities than canines. Women had lower bone densities than men. Canines displayed greater trabecular bone density and alveolar bone widths than incisors. No maxillary sites were judged to have a bone quality of 1 in this group. Quality 3 accounted for 69.7% of the total samples. CONCLUSIONS: An assessment of bone quality in the anterior alveolar ridge may well reflect age-related systemic pathological conditions and should be used in dental implant treatment planning to avoid associated risk factors.