Characteristics of mandibular anterior alveolar bone in patients with different degrees of periodontitis: a retrospective study based on CBCT

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the alveolar bone characteristics of mandibular anterior teeth in patients with periodontitis.

Materials and methods: 100 patients with periodontitis were selected and grouped according to the degrees of alveolar bone resorption, age, gender, and tooth type. The labial thickness of the alveolar bone, the degree of alveolar bone resorption, angulation between the long axis of teeth and alveolar process, alveolar bone height and density of the mandibular anterior teeth were measured.

Results: There were significant differences in alveolar bone morphology between these three groups. Compared with the mild and moderate groups, the severe group showed that the alveolar bone in the half of the root crown was thickened, the alveolar bone height was decreased, the cancellous alveolar bone density was increased, and the cortical alveolar bone density was decreased. The resorption of alveolar bone was characterized by greater resorption of proximal bone than that of labial bone with increased bone loss. There were also differences in alveolar bone characteristics among patients of different ages, genders, and tooth types.

Conclusions: The morphology of the mandibular anterior alveolar bone changed accordingly with the degree of periodontitis. Labial alveolar bone thickness and cortical alveolar bone density were negatively correlated with the degree of periodontitis, while alveolar bone height and cancellous alveolar bone density were positively correlated with the degree of periodontitis.

Clinical relevance: These results allow clinicians to better understand the alveolar bone morphology of the mandibular anterior teeth in patients with periodontitis, facilitating better treatment design and avoiding complications.

Keywords: Alveolar bone; Anterior teeth; Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT); Mandibular; Periodontitis.