Determination of bone quality of 372 implant recipient sites using Hounsfield unit from computerized tomography: a clinical study.
BACKGROUND
The type and architecture of bone are very important factors in the successful implant treatment, and it is manifested that higher implant failure is more likely in the poorer quality of bone. Conventional bone classifications have recently been questioned because they are subjective and retrospective.


OBJECTIVE
This clinical study aimed to determine the variations of the bone density in dental implant recipient sites using computerized tomography (CT).


METHODS
The study group comprised of randomly selected 140 patients with 372 implant sites. Recipient sites for implant placement were determined based on CT data using implant planning StentCad software (Media Lab Software, La Spezia, Italy). The mean bone density values in Hounsfield unit (HU) of the simulated implant areas were recorded using the StentCad software.


RESULTS
The HU values ranged from 68 to 1,603 HU. It was found that mean bone density values were 927 +/- 237, 721 +/- 291, 708 +/- 277, and 505 +/- 274 HU in the anterior mandible, posterior mandible, anterior maxilla, and posterior maxilla, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Preoperative CT examination may be a useful method for determining the bone density of recipient areas before implant placement, and this valuable information about bone quality helps clinicians to make better treatment planning regarding the implant positions.
Turkyilmaz
Ilser
I
Department of Restorative and Prosthetic Dentistry, College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43218-2357, USA. turkyilmaz.1@osu.edu
Ozan
Oguz
O
Yilmaz
Burak
B
Ersoy
Ahmet Ersan
AE
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015519:Bone Density; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D011300:Preoperative Care; D012984:Software; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed