Materials: A modified surgical stent was designed to locate the beaks of ridge-mapping calipers at the same points of the jaw during two measurements. 52 implant sites in 11 cases were studied. Measurements were made at 3mm and 6mm distances from crest of the ridge in each implant site. Two measurements were made; one on the CT-Scan and the other intra-orally.
Results: Differences between CT-Scan and intraoral measurements were not significant (P>0.05). Conclusion: Results of this study suggest that it is possible to use ridge-mapping to determine the ridge-width instead of CT-Scan. Ridge-mapping can provide reliable information about bone levels, which can result in avoiding radiation exposure and reducing cost for patients. However it is suggested to use methods other than ridge mapping in patients with complex treatment needs.
Key words: Dental implant, Ridge-mapping, CT-Scan, Bone calipers.