Analysis of the radial plane tooth position and bone wall dimensions in the anterior maxilla in relation to immediate implant placement : A CBCT based study.

Purpose-The purpose of this observational, clinical study was to analyse the radial plane tooth position and bone wall dimension in the anterior maxilla in relation to immediate implant placement.Material and methods-Maxillary anterior teeth (n=500) were analysed as viewed in the radial plane of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from 100 patients.Each tooth was classified according to its position and inclination within its alveolus (class I, middle of the alveolus; IA, thick facial bone; IB, thin facial bone; class II, retroclined; IIA, thick crestal bone; IIB, thin crestal bone; class III, proclined; class IV, facially outside bone envelope; class V, both thin facial and palatal bone with apical isthmus).Bone thickness was measured for both facial and palatal walls at the following points: crestal (A), mid-root (B), apex (C), and 4 mm beyond the apex.Bone wall height was also evaluated.Results: A thin facial bone wall predominated ( 1 mm) at the crest (85%) and the mid-root point (93%).Most palatal walls were thin (<1 mm) at the crest (63%) and thick ( 2 mm) at the mid-root point (98%) and apex (99%).Class I tooth position accounted for 7.3%, class II for 75%, class III for 10.3%, class IV for 4.5%, and class V for 0.2%.Conclusion-Maxillary anterior teeth have predominantly thin facial bones, making palatal bone thickness a crucial variable.