Standardization in the measurement of post extraction alveolar crests with localized volumetric tomography

Abstract

Cone-Beam Volumetric Tomography (CBVT) allows to analyze images of cranium facial complex in three dimensions, allowing in this case, to measure and compare alveolar dimensional changes altered by reabsorption processes after an extraction, which makes difficult, over time, a conventional or implant supported prosthetic rehabilitation. The objective of this work was to design a standardized technique using, us references, fixed anatomical repairs for the measurement of vestibular, palatal, or lingual alveolar ridges after an extraction. A total of 17 patients with precise indications were selected, preparing a removable surgical thermoformed plate, prior to surgery, us alveolar protector against masticatory impacts, placing it to the experimental group (11 patients), socket with collagen, and the control group (6 patients), socket without collagen, for one month. CBVT was indicated for both groups, one immediately after surgery and the other after three months, allowing to compare the dimensional changes through their measurements and, thus, obtaining the rates of reabsorption. The results of the treated patients, the statistical averages obtained, using fixed anatomical repairs us references through which the corresponding traces are made, showed that the control group obtained less bone resorption than the experimental group, both in height and width, demonstrating that the use of the plate in the socket without collagen would be more effective as a preventive of the dimensional bone resorption; concluding that the standardized technique turned out to be effective for the measurement of alveolar contours, since there is no scientific evidence of measurements made in 3D images with immovable fixed points.