RESUMO
AIM: This study aimed to measure the thickness of labial bone overlying maxillary and mandibular anterior teeth and the distance between cementoenamel junction and bone crest in a Persian population. MATERIALS & METHODS: Two calibrated examiners evaluated tomographic data of 152 maxillary and 200 mandibular anterior teeth. Labial bone width was assessed at levels 1.0 to 5.0 mm apical to bone crest. Moreover, the distance between cementoenamel junction and bone crest was measured for both maxillary and mandibular teeth and its potential effect on the amount of labial bone thickness was assessed. RESULTS: One hundred-twenty nine maxillary central incisors, 77 lateral incisors, 70 canines, 105 mandibular central incisors, 103 lateral incisors and 81 canines were included for measurements. In maxilla, width of bone averaged 1.08mm, 1.11mm, and 1.3mm for central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines, respectively. Corresponding numbers for mandibular central incisors, lateral incisors, and canines were 0.74mm, 0.66mm and 0.40mm. High variation of cementoenamel junction to bone crest distance (range 0.5 to 5.15 mm) was detected. The mean amount of labial bone width was not statistically different in patients with different distances between cementoenamel junction and bone crest; except for mandibular lateral incisors. CONCLUSION: The mean thickness of the labial alveolar bone overlying maxillary anterior teeth was found to be between 1 to 1.2 mm and between 0.5 to 0.8 mm for mandibular anterior teeth at the first 5 mm from bone crest in a Persian population.