Evaluation of alveolar bone and lingual concavity in the mandibular posterior region on conic-BEAM computerized tomography data

Introduction and Aim: Lingual concavities in the posterior mandibular region are common and cannot be detected by two-dimensional radiographs. Increasing the concavity depth limits the implant length and diameter and increases the risk of lingual concavity perforation. Perforation can have a variety of negative consequences, varies from implant loss to serious life-threatening complications. The aim of this study is to evaluate the morphology of the alveolar bone in the mandibular posterior region and to evaluate its relationship with age and gender. Materials and Methods: In this study, 500 CBCT reports were randomly selected from patients over the age of 18 who applied to our faculty and whose CBCT image was obtained, had a second premolar and lost the first molar, and were evaluated retrospectively. In the study, alveolar crest types, buccolingual width of alveolar crest, crest height, and lingual concavity depth and angle were measured. Results: U-type crest was detected with an average rate of 47.8% in 500 individuals evaluated on CBCT. The mean depth of the lingual concavities was 2.36 ± 1.11 mm and the mean angle of the lingual concavities was 61.09 ± 11.33 degrees. There was no statistically significant relationship between age and alveolar crest width, alveolar crest height, lingual concavity depth and lingual concavity angle. While alveolar crest width, alveolar crest height and lingual concavity angle were significantly higher in men, there was no significant difference between genders in terms of lingual concavity depth. Conclusion: Crest height, crest width and lingual concavity angle were found to be significantly higher in males than females in edentulous crests in the mandibular first molar region. Before the implant and other oral surgical procedures to be performed in the relevant region, it will be useful to evaluate the gender-related differences through KIBT in order to prevent complications.