Osseointegration assessment of dental implants using a synchrotron radiation imaging technique: a preliminary study.
OBJECTIVE
This study tests the possibility of using synchrotron radiation (SR) x-ray micro-imaging as a new method to evaluate osseointegration.


METHODS
A simple imaging setup with primarily unmonochromatic SR was used to study the interface of a dental implant in contact with bone. The samples were prepared by sectioning the undecalcified specimen of a titanium screw implanted in the tibia of a New Zealand white rabbit. Radiographs of the interface between surrounding tissues and dental titanium implant were imaged using the SR imaging system at PLS (Pohang Light Source) 5C1 beamline, a micro-computed tomography (microCT) system (SkyScan-1072), and a conventional dental x-ray system (Siemens Heliodent MD).


RESULTS
The image quality of the osseointegrated titanium implant was compared among the 3 imaging systems. The SR imaging technique showed greater details than other radiographic modalities for evaluation of the healing stage of bone-implant contact.


CONCLUSIONS
The evaluation was especially focused on the image quality of the osseous contact at the bone-to-implant interfaces.


CONCLUSIONS
This SR imaging technique provides finer details and can be expected to make an impact in the clinical study of osseointegration.
Jung
Haijo
H
Research Institute of Radiological Science, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea.
Kim
Hee-Joung
HJ
Hong
Soonil
S
Kim
Kee-Deog
KD
Moon
Hong-Seok
HS
Je
Jung Ho
JH
Hwu
Yeukuang
Y
D000818:Animals; D015921:Dental Implants; D005260:Female; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D008852:Microradiography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D016348:Osseointegration; D011817:Rabbits; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013382:Subtraction Technique; D013499:Surface Properties; D017356:Synchrotrons / Q000295:instrumentation; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D014025:Titanium; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D014945:Wound Healing
D015921:Dental Implants; D014025:Titanium