METHODS: Buccal maxillary mucosa thickness was evaluated at four measurement sites in the incisor and molar area of 11 patients. Each site was evaluated via CT with cheek distension and needle probing. Measurement area was identified with the aid of a thermoplastic splint to localize the exact position by a gutta-percha marker point. The comparison between the two methods was performed by Bland-Altman diagram.
RESULTS: The mean clinical thickness was 1.17 mm (±0.31) compared to 1.11 mm (±0.31) in CT evaluation. The mean difference between the two methods was 0.07 mm (±0.40; CI-0.14;0.12, P = 0.88, Krippendorff α = 0.38). According to Bland-Altman diagram the mucosal thickness may diverge by up to 0.9 mm from the radiologic thickness.
CONCLUSIONS: The two measurement methods may not be interchangeably used. As additional information to three-dimensional bone analyses, CT may be performed as a pre-operative soft tissue analysis at most implant sites with distended cheeks. Nevertheless, this method yields less valid and reliable results than the gold standard.