RESUMO
Objective:To compare the alveolar cortical bone density and thickness of jaw bones between teenagers (12-18 years of age) and adults(19-48 years of age).Methods:Spiral computed tomographic images of 60 cases were obtained from the subjects with the ages of 12 to 48 years(27 Males and 33 females,35 teenagers and 25 adults).Buccal cortical bone thickness and density in Hounsfield units were measured at 12 interradicular sites and to a depth of 14 mm.Results:The alveolar cortical bone thicknesses and densities of the jaw bones significantly increased from the crest to base of alveolar crest.The average cortical bone thicknesses rangedfrom 1.0 to 1.5 mm in the anterior part of the jaw bones,1.1 to 1.8 mm in maxillary posterior area and 1.5 to 2.8 mm in the mandible posterior areas.The cortical bone thickness and density were greater in the mandible than in the maxilla(P ＜ 0.05).The thickness values did not show difference between males and females,between adolescents and adults.Higher values of bone density were found in the adults than in the teenagers(P ＜0.05).The highest bone density in the mandible posterior area of adults was observed,and the lowest bone density in the maxillary posterior area of adolescents.Conclusion:Alveolar cortical bone density of adolescents is lower than that of adults,especially in the maxilla posterior region.