Dental implants have become a successful therapy for restoring the function of patients. Currently, computed tomography is essential for exploring bone quality and quantity and computer-guided surgery is often used for implant surgery. Computer-guided surgery can enhance the accuracy of implant positioning and angulation and facilitate minimally invasive surgery. In addition to diagnosing bone morphogenesis and bone quantity, it is essential to evaluate soft tissue for esthetic implant treatments. The purpose of this study was to evaluate initial mucosal thickness at the implant site by using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).

The subjects were 93 partially edentulous patients (39 males and 54 females, mean age 56.5 years). Initial mucosal thickness was measured by using CBCT with diagnostic templates and computer software. Differences in the mucosal thickness between jaws and sites were evaluated statistically.

The results were as follows :

1. The maxillary mucosal thickness (2.9±1.4 mm) was significantly higher than the mandibular mucosal thickness (1.9±1.0 mm).

2. The mucosal thickness was greater in the order of anterior region＞premolar region＞molar region

3. The ratio of thin mucosal thickness (≤2 mm) was 60.3% in the mandible.