An anatomical evaluation of the mandibular buccal shelf: A cone beam computed tomography study

Objectives The objectives of this article were to analyze the bone thickness and bone depth in the mandibular buccal shelf area at four sites, that is, a mesiobuccal section of mandibular first and second molar and distobuccal section of first and second molar and to analyze the bone thickness and bone height with respect to the spatial position of inferior alveolar nerve canal (IANC) at the right and left side and in males and females. Material and Methods Cone-beam computed tomography scans of 34 individuals were analyzed at four sites, that is, mesiobuccal section of the mandibular first and second molar and distobuccal section of first and second molar at both right and left sides and bone thickness as well as the bone depth of buccal shelf and IANC was measured and compared between right and left side and in between males and females. Results Bone thickness increased progressively in the distal direction. The highest bone depth was recorded in the distobuccal section of the second molar. IANC was also mapped and the result showed that the bone height from the cementoenamel junction (CEJ) to IANC decreased posteriorly but the bone depth was >18 mm at all sites. Very few parameters showed statistically significant differences between the right and left sides. Bone height to IANC from CEJ showed statistically significant differences between genders at a few sites with male subjects having higher values. Bone thickness in the IANC region showed no gender dimorphism. Conclusion The appropriate site for mandibular buccal shelf mini-implant placement is the distobuccal region of the mandibular second molar.