Dental implants are a common procedure used to replace absent teeth. Radiology has a role in pre-implant planning as well as post-implant assessment including identification of complications.
Radiographic features
Dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the most common modality used in dental implant imaging.
Pre-implant imaging
Assessment of the density (i.e. quality) and alveolar height and width (i.e. quantity) of bone is key for success implant osseointegration 2:
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density
- edentulism typically leads to bone loss with resorption of the alveolar process typically affecting width before height; mandibular bone resorption is centrifugal whereas maxillary is centripetal
- a number of Bone Quality Indices exist
- Cawood and Howell
- Lekholm and Zarb
- Norton and Gamble
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quantity
- bone implant site needs to be at least 7-9 mm high and 5 mm wide 2,3
- measurements should be taken every four sagittal oblique images through the region planned for implant
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other features
- contours
- dental extractions
- periodontal disease
- retained dental roots
- periapical lucencies
- anatomical variations, e.g. mandibular or maxillary tori
- pre-implant sinus lift or other procedure to increase maxillary alveolar ridge height and width