title: Assessment of cortical bone thickness using ultrasound.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the study was to analyze the accuracy of measuring the cortical bone thickness using a combination of low- and high-frequency ultrasound (US) compared with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and using stereomicroscopy as reference method.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten jawbone models were prepared using bovine ribs and porcine gingiva. A dental implant was placed in each model. All models were investigated by US, CBCT, and stereomicroscopy. The cortical bone thickness was measured directly above and 4 mm beside the implant with each method in different slices.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median deviation of US measurements compared to the reference method was 0.23 mm. The CBCT method was slightly more accurate (median percent deviation of 9.2%) than the US method (10.3%). However, US measurements directly above the implant were more accurate than CBCT measurements with a median percent deviation of 10.5% for US vs. 11.8% for CBCT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ultrasound showed a high potential to supplement CBCT for measurements of the cortical bone thickness.
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Degen
authors.affiliation: Chair of Medical Engineering at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Habor
authors.affiliation: Chair of Medical Engineering at the Helmholtz Institute for Biomedical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Klaus
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Radermacher
authors.affiliation: Institute for Biomedical Engineering, Mannheim University, Mannheim, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Heger
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Jaana-Sophia
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kern
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wolfart
authors.affiliation: Department of Prosthodontics and Biomaterials, Medical Faculty, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
authors.forename: Juliana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Marotti
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D000071538:Cortical Bone / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D007568:Jaw / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012272:Ribs / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013552:Swine; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods
keywords: cone-beam computed tomography; dental implant; ultrasonography