Accuracy of peri-implant bone thickness and validity of assessing bone augmentation material using cone beam computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of measuring bone thickness surrounding dental implants and the reliability of assessing existence and completion of osseous integration of augmentation material using a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) system.


METHODS
In jaws of foxhounds, artificial defects were regenerated by guided bone regeneration and then dental implants were placed. After putting down the dogs, the jaws were separated from the bodies and exposed in a CBCT system. The bone thickness was measured on both buccal and oral sides of the implants at different levels. Every examiner evaluated existence and integration of bone augmentation materials (BAM) and the completeness of marginal implant covering. The same measurements and evaluations were performed at digital images of the corresponding histological sections.


RESULTS
The mean and the standard deviation of the differences between radiological and histological measurements of peri-implant bone thickness were -0.22 mm and 0.77 mm, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity were 0.77 and 0.60 for existence of BAM, 0.59 and 0.74 for completed integration, and 0.39 and 0.71 for full covering of the implant surface.


CONCLUSIONS
The present study indicates that the PaX Duo3D(®) CBCT system allows measurements of peri-implant bone thickness at an accuracy of half a millimeter, and--within limits--assessing the existence and integration of BAM. It is not possible to evaluate whether the implant is covered completely by hard tissue.


CONCLUSIONS
Peri-implant bone thickness is a key factor for obtaining initial implant stability. The accuracy of its measurement has clinical impact. Radiological assessment of existence and integration of BAM would be of great benefit to the evaluation of augmentation procedures.
Department of Oral Surgery, Heinrich Heine University, Westdeutsche Kieferklinik, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
Dongyun
D
Wang
Andreas
A
Künzel
Vladimir
V
Golubovic
Ilya
I
Mihatovic
Gordon
G
John
Zhuofan
Z
Chen
Jürgen
J
Becker
Frank
F
Schwarz
D016301:Alveolar Bone Loss / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D000540:Alveolar Ridge Augmentation / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D064592:Autografts / Q000637:transplantation; D015519:Bone Density / Q000502:physiology; D018786:Bone Substitutes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016025:Bone Transplantation / Q000379:methods; D003094:Collagen; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003758:Dental Implantation, Endosseous / Q000379:methods; D015921:Dental Implants; D004285:Dogs; D016557:Guided Tissue Regeneration, Periodontal / Q000379:methods; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D016348:Osseointegration / Q000502:physiology; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D011897:Random Allocation; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D018786:Bone Substitutes; D015921:Dental Implants; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D003094:Collagen