Abstract:Objective To explore the correlation between the morphology of the alveolar bone defect in the maxillary anterior area and the bone graft resorption rate after implant surgery, and to analyze the factors affecting bone graft resorption.Methods The 51 patients with dentition defects admitted to Tianjin Fourth Central Hospital from December 2019 to January 2021 were selected, and the clinical records of the patients were collected and sorted. All patients received the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans before, immediately after, and 6 months after the implant surgery. According to the preoperative CBCT findings, the patients were divided into vertical bone defect group and horizontal bone defect group, and the bone graft resorption rates were determined based on the postoperative CBCT scans. The bone graft resorption rates of all patients were recorded, and the patients were therefore divided into high bone graft resorption rate group and low bone graft resorption rate group. The Spearman method was applied to analyze the correlation between morphology of the alveolar bone defect in the maxillary anterior area and the bone graft resorption rate. Multivariable Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the factors affecting the bone graft resorption in patients with alveolar bone defect in the maxillary anterior area.Results The Spearman correlation analysis showed that there was no correlation between the horizontal bone defect size and the bone graft resorption rate after implant surgery (rs = 0.241, P = 0.826), and that the vertical bone defect size was negatively correlated with the bone graft resorption rate after implant surgery (rs = -0.503, P = 0.001). The multivariable Logistic regression analysis revealed that age > 60 years old [O^R = 3.766 (95% CI: 1.192, 11.897) ], bone allografts [O^R = 3.725 (95% CI: 1.179, 11.767) ], the undercut location from the alveolar ridge > 1.0 to 2.0 mm [O^R = 5.830 (95% CI: 1.845, 18.417) ], and the larger vertical bone defect size [O^R = 5.023 (95% CI: 1.717, 14.695) ] were independent risk factors for bone graft resorption in patients with alveolar bone defect in the maxillary anterior area (P < 0.05).Conclusions The vertical bone defect size is negatively correlated with the bone graft absorption rate after implant surgery. The age older than 60 years, bone allografts, the undercut location from the alveolar ridge > 1.0 to 2.0 mm and large vertical bone defect size are independent risk factors affecting bone graft absorption in patients with alveolar bone defect in the maxillary anterior area.