• Panuruj Arguilar
• Wutthicha Cheangtawan
• Orapin Kaewplung

This study is to find the average bucco-lingual width of the edentulous alveolar ridge in maxilla and mandible and to find the relationship between the average width and age or sex in a group of Thai population. The study is done by using diagnostic casts from patients in the department of Prosthodontics, faculty of Dentistry, Chulalongkorn University among 1993-97. There are 113 pairs, and are 45 males, 68 females, with the average age of 42.98 years. By using Boyley sliding caliper measure from the hghest point level of the alveolar crest in distance of 3, 5 and 7 mm. respectively to apical. Each position is measured twice by 2 operators one by one, and each position is measured 3 points ; the point that is supposed to be the center of the missing teeth and 2 mm. mesial and distal to that point. Then, find the average width and subtract with the average thickness of soft tissue that cover in each area which modified from the previous study report. The result showed that the average width of the edentulous alveolar ridge at the level of 3, 5 and 7 mm. in each area are as follows; upper anterior area are 5.05 + 1.35, 5.92 + 1.45 and 6.76 + 1.51 mm., upper right posterior area are 7.30 + 2.27, 8.80 + 2.40 and 10.03 + 2.42 mm., upper left posterior area are 6.98 + 1.93, 8.10 + 2.24 and 8.68 + 2.48 mm., lower anterior area are 4.54 + 1.46, 5.70 + 0.70 and 5.97 + 0.19 mm., lower right posterior area are 7.10 + 1.87, 8.01 + 1.78 and 8.76 + 1.61 mm. and lower left posterior 6.45 + 1.66, 7.32 + 1.68 and  8.18 + 1.77 mm. consequently. Data analysis by the two-way ANOVA indicate that there is no statistically significant difference (p<0.05) of the average edentulous alveolar ridge width in each area between sex and age.

(CU Dent J. 2004;27:69-85)