The evaluation of vertical heights of maxillary and mandibular bones and the location of anatomic landmarks in panoramic radiographs of edentulous patients for implant dentistry.

The purpose of this study was to determine variations in the vertical height measurements in the edentulous maxilla and mandible, and to assess positions of the maxillary sinus, mandibular foramen, and the mandibular canal, which are important for implant length selection and planning using panoramic radiographs. The study sample included 346 edentulous alveolar ridges of 90 men and 83 women. Sixty-three dentate patients' panoramic radiographs were used for location of the first premolar and molar area. Panoramic radiographs were made with a Siemens Orthophos panoramic machine which had been standardized previously. All radiographs were made using a standardized manner by the same technician. Fourteen sites were measured on every panoramic radiograph whenever possible, eight sites in the maxilla and six sites in the mandible. Correlation analyses were performed between age groups and all measurements to determine if age is significant as a covariate. In order to examine the effect of gender the statistical analysis of differences between men and women was performed with Student t-test. The 5% significance level was used for statistical significancy. The height of the maxilla and the mandible in the anterior, first premolar, and first molar regions were significantly greater in men than in women. A majority of the most inferior border of the maxillary sinuses was located anterior to the first molar area (premolar regions) both in men (48.9%) and women (55.4%). Although, there was no statistically significant difference between edentulous men and women for the vertical distances from the mental foramen to the alveolar crest, and horizontal distances from mental foramen to midline, there were statistically significant differences between edentulous men and edentulous women for the vertical distances from the upper border of the mandibular canal to the alveolar crest in the first molar area. Mental foramens were located at the crest of the ridge in 7.2% of the edentulous women, and 6.7% of the edentulous men. The results of this study may guide clinicians to make primer decision of implant insertion area for implant supported prosthesis in edentulous patients.