Measurement of the Interantral Bone in Implant Dentistry Using Panoramic Radiography and Cone Beam Computed Tomography: A Human Radiographic Study

Objective: To analyse the dimensions of interantral bone available for dental implant placement in the fully edentulous maxilla. Methods: Interantral bone height (IBH) was measured using panoramic radiography and computed tomography (CT). Interantral bone width (IBW) was measured by means of CT. Results: The difference between both imaging methods in IBH assessment was highly statistically significant (p < 0.001) in the canine area, whereas in other areas, it was found to not be significant. Measured in the CT scans, bone is significantly higher in the canine area compared to the area of central and lateral incisors (p < 0.001). Significant variations in IBW were found in all three locations: bone in the central incisor area is the widest, in the area of the lateral incisor, the narrowest (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Panoramic radiography is a sufficiently accurate method for IBH imaging in the incisor area, but not in the canine area.