A new microtomographic technique for non-invasive evaluation of the bone structure around implants.
A new X-ray microtomographic technique for non-invasive assessment of the structure of bone surrounding implants was tested. Three titanium microimplants retrieved directly (n = 2) or 6 months (n = 1) after insertion in 3 patients were used as test samples. Two samples were used dry and one was embedded in plastic resin prior to microtomography. The technique provided high-resolution consecutive cross-sectional X-ray images of the specimens with a slice-to-slice distance of 4.4 to 11.0 microns. The pictures could be imported into an image analysing software with which semiautomatic quantitative measurement of the bone area and three-dimensional images of the specimens could be made. It is suggested that the technique may be used for non-invasive assessment of the bone structure around implants. Further studies are needed to evaluate the accuracy of the technique, for instance by comparing tomographic sections with histologic ones.
Sennerby
L
L
Dept of Biomaterials/Handicap Research, Institute for Surgical Sciences, Göteborg University, Brånemark Clinic, Public Dental Health Service, Göteborg City, Sweden.
Wennerberg
A
A
Pasop
F
F
D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007568:Jaw / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D008852:Microradiography / Q000379:methods*; D010969:Plastics; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D012984:Software; D014025:Titanium; D014056:Tomography, X-Ray / Q000379:methods*
D015921:Dental Implants; D010969:Plastics; D012117:Resins, Synthetic; D014025:Titanium