HORIZONTAL ALVEOLAR BONE LOSS AND VERTICAL BONE DEFECTS IN AN ADULT PATIENT POPULATION

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE PRESENT investigation were to analyze intraoral radiographs and to study 1) the distribution of the distance between t he cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and the alveolar bone level (BL) and 2) the prevalence and severity of vertical defects, and furcation lesi ons in 416 individuals seeking dental care. Full mouth radiographs wer e enlarged 7.5 times and the mesial and distal distances between CEJ a nd bone level were measured. The extent of interradicular molar radiol ucencies was also measured. Images of 10,282 teeth were studied. Subje cts were between 15 to 94 years (mean age: 47.2, S.D.+/-15.2). On aver age they had 24.8 teeth (S.D.+/-5.5). The mean distance CEJ-BL increas ed significantly up to age 45 (r(2) = 0.07; beta = 0.39; P < 0.0001) a nd remained stable thereafter r(2) = 0.09, beta = -0.02, N.S.). The me an distance: CEJ-bone level was 1.4 mm (S.D.+/-0.7) in the 15 to 24 ag e group: 3.0 (S.D.+/-1.5) in the 45 to 54 age group; and 3.02 (S.D.+/- 1.4) in the 75 to 94 age group. No vertical defects were found in 163 participants (39.3%); vertical defects greater than or equal to 3.0 mm were found in 30.2% (126). Mesial defects were significantly more com mon that distal defects (P < 0.001). The extent of horizontal bone los s was correlated to extent of vertical defects (r(2) = 0.88; P < 0.000 1). The number of remaining teeth was not associated with horizontal o r vertical bone loss. In conclusion, the study indicated that few of t he individuals had extensive horizontal bone loss. Vertical defects su itable for guided tissue regeneration procedures however, were found i n many patients.