CBCT-Based Assessment of Buccal Bone Thickness in the Aesthetic Zone of Menopausal Women

Abstract To evaluate cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and measure buccal bone thickness in the aesthetic zone of menopausal women using the Romexis software, determining the effect of menopause on alveolar bone thickness in the anterior maxilla. This retrospective, analytical cross-sectional (comparative) study was conducted at the Department of Prosthodontics, Islamic International Dental College and Hospital, Islamabad, Pakistan. A total of 147 CBCT scans of female patients aged 45 to 55 years were reviewed. Ninety scans were excluded for poor quality or incomplete data, and 50 scans were selected based on eligibility. Participants were divided into menopausal (≥ 50 years) and nonmenopausal (< 50 years) groups, each with 25 cases. Buccal bone thickness was measured at the crestal and midroot regions of the anterior maxillary teeth using the Planmeca Romexis Viewer 6.4.3 software. Measurements were performed by a calibrated examiner. The Mann–Whitney U and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests were used; a p-value of < 0.05 was considered significant. The nonmenopausal group demonstrated significantly greater mean buccal bone thickness than the menopausal group (p = 0.002) at both the crestal and midroot regions. Effect sizes indicated moderate to large clinical impact. Menopausal women exhibited a significant reduction in buccal bone thickness of maxillary anterior teeth, emphasizing the influence of hormonal changes on alveolar bone health.