Resumo

SILVA NETO, Joaquim Celestino; PONTUAL, Andréa dos Anjos  e  CARIBE, Pérola Michelle Vasconcelos. Linear evaluation of bone thickness in the chin region for intra-oral bone grafts. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. [online]. 2010, vol.10, n.2, pp. 77-82. ISSN 1808-5210.

The alveolar process of the maxilla and mandible undergo reabsorption after the removal of tooth roots or as a result of neoplastic, traumatic or infectious lesions. Severe reabsorption disables the rehabilitation of completely edentulous patients and may cause severe damage to health, such as phonetic dysfunctions, masticatory incapacity and poor nutrition, in addition to its effect on facial aesthetics that produces psychological and/or social disturbances. For reconstruction of the alveolar processes and subsequent dental implant, bone grafts are used in these areas. Autogenous grafts are the most widely used as they are osteoconductive and osteogenic. These grafts can be removed from intra- or extra-oral donor areas. Among the intra-oral donor areas, the chin area of the mandible is highlighted, due to its low morbidity and easy surgical access. The aim of this study was to measure the volume of bone tissue available for graft donation in the chin area, using computerized tomography by volume reconstruction associated with Dental Slice® software. The variables analyzed were the cortical and medullary thicknesses of the region where the central incisors, lateral incisors and canines are located. One hundred cone beam computed tomography tests were analyzed with male and female patients over the age of 24 years. The results showed that the average chin area available for possible bone donation forms a 1.61 cm³ rectangular block. In male patients, this block has a height of 10.32 mm, a length of 24.40 mm, 2.31 mm of cortical region and 5.21 mm of medullary region. The donor area of female patients has a height of 8.79 mm, a length of 23.67 mm, 2.18 mm of cortical region and 4.54 of medullary region. On completion of this study it was concluded that there is on average 1.61 cm³ of bone material in the chin area for a possible graft donation and that there is a significant difference in the measurements when the gender variable is analyzed, revealing the existence of sexual dimorphism in the measurements performed.

Palavras-chave : Bone Transplant; Bone Graft; Alveolar Bone Loss; Bone Resorption.