title: The accuracy of alveolar crest dimensions measurement for dental implants. In vitro study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of radiological examination methods in quantitative preimplantar bone assessment.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was carried out on a dry cranium, totally edentate. There have been radiological appreciated the height of the alveolar process and its width, both to the maxilla and the mandible. Also, it has been established the distance between the free edge of the alveolar crest and the superior edge of the mandibular canal. The values radiological measured have then been compared with those obtained through direct measurement of these dimensions on the cranium.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results were performed in tables and diagrams. The greatest deviation from the real values was at the panoramic radiography, while the computer tomography was the most accurate examination among the radiological techniques used in this study. The panoramic radiography doesn't give information about the alveolar crest thickness, about it's declivity and the alveolar crest measurement generates significant errors. Linear tomography implies a difficult technique, but it has the advantage of a low irradiation,a wider accessibility and a lower cost than the CT. Computer tomography is the most accurate preimplantar evaluation technique but it has the disadvantage of a high patient radiation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The panoramic radiography represents an insufficient method for appreciating the preimplantar bone status. That's why it has to be supplemented with other radiological examinations, especially at the cases with alveolar crest atrophy, to avoid accidental penetration of adjacent structures.
authors.affiliation: I. Haţieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, School of Dental Medicine, Department of Oro-Maxillo-Facial Radiology.
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hedeşiu
authors.forename: Cristiana
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Balog
authors.forename: Diana Monica
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Preda
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Băciuţ
authors.forename: Mihaela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Băciuţ
authors.forename: Floarea
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fildan
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pop
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maier
mesh_terms: D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous; D015921:Dental Implants; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007575:Jaw, Edentulous / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D015921:Dental Implants