Noninvasive evaluation of the correlation between thickness of the buccal bone and attached gingiva of maxillary premolars

Abstract

Objective: To noninvasively determine the relationship between the thickness of the buccal bone and attached gingiva of the maxillary premolars. Material and Methods: 128 maxillary premolars in 32 patients were assessed for measurement of buccal bone thickness and corresponding attached gingival thickness at 3 mm apical to cemento-enamel junction. Buccal bone thickness was measured on cone-beam computed tomography scans and attached gingival thickness by ultrasound unit. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to assess the correlation between buccal bone and attached gingival thickness at each tooth type. Results: The mean buccal bone thickness at the maxillary premolars was 1.07 mm. The 1st premolars had a buccal bone thickness < 1 mm at 68% of all sites, and the 2nd premolars had a buccal bone thickness of 1.0-2.0 mm at 32% of all sites. The 1st premolars had a gingival thickness > 1.2 mm at 55% of all sites, and the 2nd premolars had a gingival thickness of 1.1-1.3 mm at 45% of all sites. The correlation between buccal bone and attached gingival thickness was moderately positive (r = 0.406; P