Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Imaging studies can get the information of dental implants timely. However, there are errors in the height and width of the bone when determined by commonly used orthopantomography (OPG).
OBJECTIVE: To compare the application of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and OPG in dental implants.
METHODS: Fifty-three patients with missing teeth (n=65) and good periodontal status were assessed with CBCT and OPG before and after implant operation. Before operation, a steel ball with a diameter of 3 mm was fixed at the implanted area as a standard object for reference. Then, the diameter of the steel ball was measured by both CBCT and OPG. After operation, the rate of osseointegration was analyzed, and the difference was compared.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: Compared with OPG, the difference between the real diameter and X-ray results by CBCT was smaller (P < 0.05). Three months later, the discovery rate of implant non-osseointegration measured by CBCT was similar to the result measured by OPG (P > 0.05). Compared with OPG, CBCT can evaluate the bone volume of pre-surgical alveolar bone more accurately, and can also indicate the peri-implant bone volume and quality much clearly.