Cone beam computed tomography evaluation of alveolar bone thickness and its correlation with different mucogingival height: cross sectional study

Objectives: To evaluate the average alveolar buccal cortical bone thickness using Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) at different clinical mucogingival junction heights (MGJ), and to provide the correlation between the alveolar buccal bone thickness and clinical MGJ.Methods: The study was carried on 89 patients having CBCTs recruited in the orthodontic clinic. The MGJ were measured clinically in both upper and lower arches using digital caliper. Then, using CBCT at the same length to measure the corresponding alveolar cortical bone thickness. Analysis of the data was performed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Student’s t-test.Results: At the upper side, there was a statistically significant direct correlation between length and thickness measurements at MGJ, MGJ + 2 mm as well as MGJ – 2 mm (P-value <0.001), (P-value <0.001) and (P-value <0.001), respectively. Similarly at the lower side, there was a statistically significant direct correlation between length and thickness measurements at MGJ, MGJ + 2 mm as well as MGJ – 2 mm (P-value = 0.039), (P-value = 0.001) and (P-value <0.001), respectively. Conclusions: There was a direct correlation between average clinical MGJ obtained through clinical measurement and the corresponding alveolar cortical bone thickness calculated through CBCT measurement.