Dose inhomogeneities on surfaces of different dental implants during irradiation with high-energy photons.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to determine the radiation doses in mucosa and bone close to the surface of different dental implant materials.


METHODS
Radiation dose was measured at the interface of bone or soft tissue and various implant materials for 6 MV photons generated by a medical linear accelerator using a phantom and ultrathin thermoluminescent dosemeters.


RESULTS
Increasing thickness of implant materials resulted in a dose decrease in bone immediately behind the implants. Directly in front of titanium implants, dose increases of 18.2% and 30.4% were found in bone and soft tissue, respectively, independent of implant thickness and surface structure (polished/plasma coated). Even a titanium coating with 70 microm hydroxyapatite did not affect the scattering dose. In contrast, for aluminium oxide ceramics, a scatter-induced notable dose increase could not be assessed.


CONCLUSIONS
During irradiation with high-energy photons, an implant-induced dose enhancement could be reduced in bone using the technique of multiple fields and in soft tissue using ceramic abutments.
Binger
T
T
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinic Homburg, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany. zmktbin@uniklinik-saarland.de
Seifert
H
H
Blass
G
G
Bormann
K-H
KH
Rücker
M
M
D000537:Aluminum Oxide / Q000528:radiation effects; D002516:Ceramics / Q000528:radiation effects; D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible / Q000528:radiation effects; D000044:Dental Abutments; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials / Q000528:radiation effects*; D003776:Dental Porcelain / Q000528:radiation effects; D017267:Dental Prosthesis Design; D017886:Durapatite / Q000528:radiation effects; D006801:Humans; D007568:Jaw / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000528:radiation effects*; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D011879:Radiotherapy Dosage; D011882:Radiotherapy, High-Energy; D012542:Scattering, Radiation; D013499:Surface Properties; D013819:Thermoluminescent Dosimetry; D014025:Titanium / Q000528:radiation effects
D020099:Coated Materials, Biocompatible; D015921:Dental Implants; D003764:Dental Materials; D003776:Dental Porcelain; D017886:Durapatite; D014025:Titanium; D000537:Aluminum Oxide