Influence of Posterior Mandibular Dimensions on Alveolar Bone Microarchitecture

Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of posterior mandibular dimensions (height and width at various levels) on alveolar bone microarchitecture using microcomputed tomography (micro- CT). Materials and Methods: Partially edentulous subjects with one missing molar were included in the study. A bone core biopsy was performed at the site of planned implant surgery. For each patient, alveolar morphologic and architectural characteristics were analyzed using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and micro-CT imaging. Two parameters for height (apicocoronal residual height [RH] and residual ridge from inferior alveolar canal [RHN]) and three for buccolingual width (residual width at 5 mm [RW1], at 10 mm [RW2], and at 15 mm [RW3]) were determined using CBCT. Additionally, 10 parameters were obtained from micro-CT to determine microarchitecture. Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the correlation between the morphologic and microarchitectural variables. Results: Significant positive correlations (P .05) were found between RH and bone volumetric fraction (BV/TV) (r_s = 0.34) and trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) (r_s = 0.45). A significant negative correlation was found between RH and the bone-specific surface (BS/BV) (r_s = -0.34). A strong significant negative correlation was found between trabecular spacing (Tb.Sp) and RW1 (r_s = -0.42). None of the other variables reached statistical significance. Conclusion: Posterior mandibular dimensions may affect bony architectural characteristics. Keywords: alveolar bone, bone, dental implant, endosseous implant, evidence-based dentistry, trabecular