Likelihood of needing facial bone augmentation in the anterior maxilla of Chinese Asians A cone beam computed tomography virtual implant study

Background: The perfect position and axis of an implant is often limited by the morphology of the alveolar ridge, especially in Asians.
Purpose: The aim of this study was to investigate the frequency at which ideal implant placement position in the anterior maxilla of Chinese Asians would require facial bone augmentation given by an initial facial bone profile.
Materials and Methods: Implants were virtually placed in 303 sites without tooth loss in the anterior maxilla. The incidence and characters of implant facial plate fenestration were analyzed. If there was no facial fenestration, the thinnest buccal plate (TB) amount adjacent to the implant was measured and recorded.
Results: A total of 79 (26.07%) sites showed fenestrations. The mean length, width, and area of exposure in the fenestration sites were 2.94 ± 1.67 mm, 1.52 ± 0.97 mm, and 2.84 ± 3.13 mm2, respectively. In the nonfenestrated sites, the TB of facial bone around the virtual implants was 1.10 ± 0.78 mm. Among the 224 nonfenestrated sites, 126 sites had a TB of less than 1 mm.
Conclusions: It can be concluded that the initial facial bone profile should be considered when designing restorations and choosing an optimal implant position in the anterior maxilla.