Morphological characteristics of the facial bone wall related to the tooth position in the alveolar crest in the maxillary anterior

The purpose of this study was to analyze whether the position of the tooth in the alveolar ridge influences the thickness of the facial bone wall and the distance between the cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and osseous zenith (OZ). Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans from fifty four dentate patients were included in the study (22 male and 32 female, mean age 41. 5 years). The measurements taken included: (1). The Facial bone thickness at 7 different equidistant levels -measuring levels (ML 1-7) - between OZ and the root apex (A). (2) The CEJ -OZ distance. (3) Facial position of the tooth (FPT) relative to a straight line traced from mesial to distal interproximal depressions of the alveolar plate at the level of the CEJ. The Facial bone wall thickness ranged between 0 mm and 3. 8 mm, with greater values at more apical levels. Mean values were smaller than 1 mm at every level except ML7. The CEJ-OZ distance varied between 0. 5 mm and 6. 9 mm (mean 2. 9 mm). The Mean of FPT value was 0. 6 mm. No statistically significant correlation was found between FPT and the CEJ-OZ distance. Weak negative statistically significant correlations were found between FPT and the thickness of the facial bone wall at MP1 and MP3. Within the limits of this study, no clinically relevant correlation between FPT and facial bone thickness - CEJ-OZ distance was found. More studies should be conducted to evaluate a greater number of teeth, especially those that may present misalignment with greater FPT values.