Percentage of undercut areas in edentulous patients

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Bony undercuts are usually present in both maxillary and mandibular jaws (anteriorly and posteriorly) unilateral or bilateral. Their location is affected by bone resorption and aging process.
Materials and methods: This study was conducted on a sixty male and female patients attending the fifth class clinic in college of dentistry / Baghdad University. Their ages ranged from 30 -80 years with no systemic diseases.
Results: In the maxillary jaw the percentage of undercut in male anteriorly was 57%, while posteriorly was21%. In the mandibular jaw anteriorly was 24%; posteriorly was 43%. In the female subject the percentage of undercut was in maxillary jaw anteriorly 23%; posteriorly was 6%, in mandibular jaw anteriorly was 4%, posteriorly was 15%.
Conclusion: There was a highly significant difference in the prevalence of undercuts between males and females, in the maxillary posterior region and mandibular anterior areas. A significant difference was also found between males and females in the maxillary anterior region and mandibular poster area.
Key words: Maxillary undercut, mandibular undercut. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2006; 18(2) 22-24)