Method for determining atrophy of alveolar arches and the frequency of occurrence of their main variants in the complete absence of teeth

Methods of prosthetic treatment in the complete absence of teeth are determined by the severity of atrophy of the alveolar arches, which differ in a variety of forms. Purpose. To develop a method for determining the degree of alveolar arch atrophy and to determine the frequency of occurrence of various variants in the clinic of prosthetic dentistry. Material and methods. A two-stage cahort study included the analysis of the transversal dimensions of the dentofacial arches at the level of the second molars, which made it possible to measure tomograms in different parts of the apical basis (cervical, root, apical). The second stage of the study was carried out on models with complete edentulism. Outcomes. In the upper jaw, the cervical transversal, compared to the root transversal, was larger by (3.01 ± 0.03) mm and (6.1 ± 0.07) mm larger than the apical transversal. In the lower jaw, the cervical transversal, in comparison with the root transversal, was (3.26 ± 0.05) mm smaller and (5.96 ± 1.07) mm smaller than the interapical transversal. Conclusion. A difference in the size of the posterior alveolar width of up to three millimeters is characteristic of first-degree atrophy. A difference in the size of the posterior alveolar width of four to eight millimeters is characteristic of second-degree atrophy, and a difference of more than nine millimeters is considered to be marked third-degree atrophy of the distal alveolar arches. These differences are applicable in the clinic of prosthetic dentistry when choosing methods for modeling artificial dental arches in full removable dentures, as well as for assessing the effectiveness of treatment.