The relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional study

Abstract Background Maxillary tuberosity and buccal plate fractures are common complications observed during routine extractions of upper third molars in daily dental practice. The study aimed to evaluate the association between buccal and palatal cortical bone thickness around upper third molars, t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mohammed Amjed Alsaegh, Omar Almulla, Nawaf Almutairi, Bader Alkandari, Ahmad Altourah
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-07-01
Series:BMC Oral Health
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06596-w
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849332034984476672
author Mohammed Amjed Alsaegh
Omar Almulla
Nawaf Almutairi
Bader Alkandari
Ahmad Altourah
author_facet Mohammed Amjed Alsaegh
Omar Almulla
Nawaf Almutairi
Bader Alkandari
Ahmad Altourah
author_sort Mohammed Amjed Alsaegh
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Maxillary tuberosity and buccal plate fractures are common complications observed during routine extractions of upper third molars in daily dental practice. The study aimed to evaluate the association between buccal and palatal cortical bone thickness around upper third molars, the dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity, and the anatomical characteristics of the upper third molars. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 227 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans retrieved from the archives of the University Dental Hospital of Sharjah (UDHS). Measurements included the buccal and palatal cortical bone thickness surrounding the upper third molars. The width, height, and length of the maxillary tuberosity were also evaluated, along with the anatomical features of the third molars. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and Pearson’s correlation were applied. Results The palatal cortical bone was significantly thicker than the buccal cortical bone (p = 0.011). The mean width, height, and length of the maxillary tuberosity were 8.78 ± 1.897 mm, 8.86 ± 3.262 mm, and 4.86 ± 1.490 mm, respectively. Males exhibited significantly greater mean tuberosity width and length compared to females (p < 0.001). Buccal cortical bone thickness positively correlated with tuberosity height (p < 0.001) and negatively with tuberosity width (p = 0.004). ANCOVA showed significant effects of root number (F = 3.107, p = 0.047) and age group (F = 2.854, p = 0.025) on buccal cortical bone thickness, with no significant interaction between gender and jaw side (p > 0.05). Additionally, a significant difference in tuberosity width (p = 0.002) was also observed across age groups. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between tuberosity height and the root length of the associated upper third molar (p < 0.001). Conclusions The anatomical dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity and surrounding cortical bone of upper third molars were influenced by age, while sex affected only tuberosity dimensions. Additionally, correlations among upper third molar anatomy, cortical bone thickness, and tuberosity dimensions highlight the importance of thorough anatomical assessment and CBCT analysis to minimize surgical complications during upper third molar extractions.
format Article
id doaj-art-5bac1268bc7844d19068c5ed798c90d6
institution Kabale University
issn 1472-6831
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Oral Health
spelling doaj-art-5bac1268bc7844d19068c5ed798c90d62025-08-20T03:46:20ZengBMCBMC Oral Health1472-68312025-07-012511910.1186/s12903-025-06596-wThe relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional studyMohammed Amjed Alsaegh0Omar Almulla1Nawaf Almutairi2Bader Alkandari3Ahmad Altourah4Department of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of SharjahDepartment of Oral and Craniofacial Health Sciences, College of Dental Medicine, University of SharjahAbstract Background Maxillary tuberosity and buccal plate fractures are common complications observed during routine extractions of upper third molars in daily dental practice. The study aimed to evaluate the association between buccal and palatal cortical bone thickness around upper third molars, the dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity, and the anatomical characteristics of the upper third molars. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed 227 cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans retrieved from the archives of the University Dental Hospital of Sharjah (UDHS). Measurements included the buccal and palatal cortical bone thickness surrounding the upper third molars. The width, height, and length of the maxillary tuberosity were also evaluated, along with the anatomical features of the third molars. Data were analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, ANCOVA, and Pearson’s correlation were applied. Results The palatal cortical bone was significantly thicker than the buccal cortical bone (p = 0.011). The mean width, height, and length of the maxillary tuberosity were 8.78 ± 1.897 mm, 8.86 ± 3.262 mm, and 4.86 ± 1.490 mm, respectively. Males exhibited significantly greater mean tuberosity width and length compared to females (p < 0.001). Buccal cortical bone thickness positively correlated with tuberosity height (p < 0.001) and negatively with tuberosity width (p = 0.004). ANCOVA showed significant effects of root number (F = 3.107, p = 0.047) and age group (F = 2.854, p = 0.025) on buccal cortical bone thickness, with no significant interaction between gender and jaw side (p > 0.05). Additionally, a significant difference in tuberosity width (p = 0.002) was also observed across age groups. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between tuberosity height and the root length of the associated upper third molar (p < 0.001). Conclusions The anatomical dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity and surrounding cortical bone of upper third molars were influenced by age, while sex affected only tuberosity dimensions. Additionally, correlations among upper third molar anatomy, cortical bone thickness, and tuberosity dimensions highlight the importance of thorough anatomical assessment and CBCT analysis to minimize surgical complications during upper third molar extractions.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06596-wMaxillary tuberosityBuccal cortical bonePalatal cortical boneUpper third molarMorphology
spellingShingle Mohammed Amjed Alsaegh
Omar Almulla
Nawaf Almutairi
Bader Alkandari
Ahmad Altourah
The relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional study
BMC Oral Health
Maxillary tuberosity
Buccal cortical bone
Palatal cortical bone
Upper third molar
Morphology
title The relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional study
title_full The relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional study
title_fullStr The relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional study
title_full_unstemmed The relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional study
title_short The relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity: a retrospective cross-sectional study
title_sort relationship between the thickness of the buccal and palatal cortical bone surrounding the maxillary third molars and the corresponding dimensions of the maxillary tuberosity a retrospective cross sectional study
topic Maxillary tuberosity
Buccal cortical bone
Palatal cortical bone
Upper third molar
Morphology
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12903-025-06596-w
work_keys_str_mv AT mohammedamjedalsaegh therelationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT omaralmulla therelationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT nawafalmutairi therelationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT baderalkandari therelationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT ahmadaltourah therelationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT mohammedamjedalsaegh relationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT omaralmulla relationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT nawafalmutairi relationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT baderalkandari relationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy
AT ahmadaltourah relationshipbetweenthethicknessofthebuccalandpalatalcorticalbonesurroundingthemaxillarythirdmolarsandthecorrespondingdimensionsofthemaxillarytuberosityaretrospectivecrosssectionalstudy