Aim and objective: This study aimed to evaluate the different approaches in measuring alveolar ridge width accurateness before implant placement. Materials and methods: This study included 30 partially edentulous patients with missing teeth in the age range of 18–50 years needing dental implant prosthetic replacement of the missing teeth. A stent was prepared and the width of the alveolar ridge was estimated employing the following techniques: Group I: Measurement of alveolar ridge width on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) method, group II: Measurement of alveolar ridge width by ridge mapping technique, group III: Measurement of alveolar ridge width by surgical exposure. The data were analyzed statistically using the SPSS Statistics for Windows Software, version 17.0. The significance level was set at 5%. Results: 3.84 ± 0.20 was the width of the alveolar ridge on CBCT, 3.96 ± 0.44 with ridge mapping, and 3.78 ± 0.16 by direct measurement upon surgical exposure at point 1. The measurements at point 2 on CBCT, by ridge mapping, and on surgical exposure were 6.80 ± 0.26, 7.02 ± 0.98, and 6.68 ± 0.76, respectively. When ridge mapping and surgical exposure methods at both points were compared, the difference between the groups was significant statistically at point 2 with the p value <0.04. Conclusion: Cone-beam computed tomography and ridge mapping techniques when independently compared with the gold standard surgical exposure system, CBCT was verified to be an extremely specific and sensitive technique to measure the residual alveolar ridge width for dental implant therapy planning. Clinical significance: Residual ridge resorption following the tooth extraction is an inevitable phenomenon that results in inadequate width of the ridge. Hence, it is essential to measure the physical dimensions of the existing bone as part of the diagnosis and pre-surgical planning before implant placement. The success of the dental implant depends on the significant requirement of dimensions of the existing bone.