Ultrasonic evaluation of dental implant biomechanical stability: an in vitro study.
Dental implants are widely used for oral rehabilitation. However, there remain risks of failure that are difficult to anticipate. The objective of this ex vivo study is to investigate the potentiality of quantitative ultrasound (QUS) to assess the amount of bone in contact with titanium prototype cylindrical implants. Four groups of 10 rabbit femurs each are considered, corresponding to different amounts of bone in contact with the implant. The 10 MHz ultrasonic response of the implant is processed to derive a quantitative indicator I, based on the temporal variation of the signal amplitude. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 10(-5)) tests revealed a statistical distribution of I significantly correlated with the amount of bone in contact with the cylinders. An analytical model considering the propagation of lateral waves allows the understanding of the physical origin of the echoes. QUS technique may be used to investigate the amount of bone in contact with a cylinder implant.
CNRS, Université Paris 7, Laboratoire de Biomécanique Biomatériaux Ostéo Articulaires, UMR CNRS 7052, Paris, France.
Vincent
V
Mathieu
Fani
F
Anagnostou
Emmanuel
E
Soffer
Guillaume
G
Haïat
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003759:Dental Implantation, Endosseous, Endodontic; D015921:Dental Implants; D008954:Models, Biological; D011817:Rabbits; D014465:Ultrasonics; D014463:Ultrasonography
D015921:Dental Implants