Volumetric Evaluation of Safe Zone for Bone Harvesting From Symphysis Region by Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of the present study was to retrospectively make a volumetric evaluation of symphysis sites of patients by the use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: This retrospective study evaluated dentate symphysis region of the mandibles in CBCT scans taken for different reasons in 90 patients (45 women and 45 men). Three-dimensional (3D) data were obtained using a CBCT device Kodak 9000 3D CMOS sensor with optical fiber. CBCT images were then transferred as digital imaging and communications in medicine files and imported into a volumetric-rendering software 3D DOCTOR (Able Software Corp., Lexington, MA) capable of measurements of vector based-segmentation technology for volumetric measurements. RESULTS: The total average bone volume is 2616.45 mm. Significant differences in average bone volume were found between group I and group IV (P < 0.001). Higher bone volume was obtained in the male groups (2903.01 mm) than in the female groups (2329.88 mm). CONCLUSIONS: CBCT is a good candidate for 3D assessment of high-contrast structures in the oral region. We suggest that the use of 3D computed tomography in combination with a software program is a dependable means of measuring the volume of the symphysis bone graft.