Three-dimensional micro-computed tomographic imaging of alveolar bone in experimental bone loss or repair.
BACKGROUND
Micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) offers significant potential for identifying mineralized structures. However, three-dimensional (3-D) micro-CT of alveolar bone has not been adapted readily for quantification. Moreover, conventional methods are not highly sensitive for analyzing bone loss or bone gain following periodontal disease or reconstructive therapy. The objective of this investigation was to develop a micro-CT methodology for quantifying tooth-supporting alveolar bone in 3-D following experimental preclinical situations of periodontitis or reconstructive therapy.


METHODS
Experimental in vivo bone loss or regeneration situations were developed to validate the micro-CT imaging techniques. Twenty mature Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: bone loss (Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide-mediated bone resorption) and regenerative therapy. Micro-CT and software digitized specimens were reconstructed three-dimensionally for linear and volumetric parameter assessment of alveolar bone (linear bone height, bone volume, bone volume fraction, bone mineral content, and bone mineral density). Intra- and interexaminer reproducibility and reliability were compared for methodology validation.


RESULTS
The results demonstrated high examiner reproducibility for linear and volumetric parameters with high intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and coefficient of variation (CV). The ICC showed that the methodology was highly reliable and reproducible (ICC >0.99; 95% confidence interval, 0.937 to 1.000; CV <1.5%), suggesting that 3-D measurements may provide better alveolar bone analysis than conventional 2-D methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The developed methods allow for highly accurate and reproducible static measurements of tooth-supporting alveolar bone following preclinical situations of bone destruction or regeneration. Future investigations should focus on using in vivo micro-CT imaging for real-time assessments of alveolar bone changes.
Park
Chan Ho
CH
Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
Abramson
Zachary R
ZR
Taba
Mario
M
Jin
Qiming
Q
Chang
Jia
J
Kreider
Jaclynn M
JM
Goldstein
Steven A
SA
Giannobile
William V
WV
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000818:Animals; D015519:Bone Density; D001861:Bone Regeneration; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010518:Periodontitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D033581:Stem Cell Transplantation; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*