Alveolar dehiscence and fenestration in dried South Africa Negro maxillae.

One hundred adult South African Negro skulls having a complete maxillary dentition were examined for the pre­ sence of dehiscence and fenestrations o f the labial or buccal alveolar plate. The defects were diagnosed ac­ cording to the definition in the Journal o f Periodontology, Glossary.of Terms (1977). It was found that 8,4 per cent o f teeth had either dehiscences or fenestrations and 28,5 per cent o f the maxillary first molars had a de­ fective alveolar covering and that this tooth was the most common tooth in the mouth to have fenestrations and dehiscences. It is postulated that the proximity o f the maxillary first molar to the zygomatic pillar could play a role in the occurrence o f these bony defects. OPSOMMING