الفهرس 
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Abstract
Background: The most common periodontal disease in children is gingival inflammation around primary teeth, however, bone loss around the primary teeth has also seen. It has been suggested that destruction of periodontal structure begins in primary teeth because of the biological changes take place such as eruption and exfoliation and increase of oral micro flora. Therefore it is important to detect the periodontal disease as early as possible in order to intervene and treat the condition, and prevent the further destruction of tissues. Aim: To determine the normal value of alveolar bone height in two age groups of healthy Egyptian children. Materials and Methods: This study was conducted on two age groups of 200 healthy children of both genders. The first group (group 1) was pre-school children, 4-5 years of age and the second group (group 2) was school children, 9-10 years of age. As inclusion criteria, at least one side of the mandible was free of deep inter-proximal caries, inter-proximal restorations, calculus, heavy plaque and diastema. Digital periapical radiograph was taken for the anterior teeth and digital bitewing radiograph for the posterior teeth of that side. Computer software (Planmeca Romexis Viewer) version 3.8.0. was used for measuring CEJ-ABC distance on each radiograph. Three parallel horizontal lines were drawn subsequently on: the cusp of tooth, cemento-enamel junction (CEJ) and alveolar bone crest (ABC). Another perpendicular line starts from horizontal line of tooth cusp to cross the parallel horizontal lines of the CEJ and ABC. The distance between CEJ and ABC was drawn, measured and recorded. The data were statistically analysed. Results: group 1: The mean of CEJ-ABC distance for the anterior teeth was (1.06 ± 0.29 mm) and posterior primary molars was (0.52 ± 0.13 mm). group 2: The mean of CEJ-ABC distance for anterior teeth was (0.57 ± 0.09 mm and posterior primary molars was (0.80 ± 0.13 mm). The mean of CEJ-ABC distance for the first permanent molar was (0.63 ± 0.10 mm). The increased CEJ-ABC distance of either of the anteriors in group 1 or the primary posteriors in group 2 compared to their distance in the other age group is significant (P≤0.05). Conclusion: This study supplies valuable information on normal height of alveolar bone in two different age groups of healthy Egyptian children. The CEJ-ABC distance difference between the two age groups is most likely related to the shedding process changes.