Computed tomography bone density in Hounsfield units at dental implant receiving sites in different regions of the jaw bone

Abstract

Background: Determination of local bone mineral density (BMD) with cortical thickness and bone height may offer a comprehensive description of the bone the surgeon will encounter when he or she actually sets the implant. Quantitative computed tomography (CT) (i.e., quantitative interpretation of values derived from Hounsfield units with a suitable calibration procedure) is the modality of choice to determine BMD. The aim of the present clinical study is to determine the local bone density in dental implant recipient sites using computerized tomography. Material and method: The sample consisted of (72) Iraqi patients whom referred to Al-Kharkh General hospital, Spiral CT scan Department for bone quality and quantity assessment after one week of dental implants insertion, the average of bone density was measured for 120 areas indifferent sectors of maxilla and mandible in Hounsfield unite. Results: As a mean, males show higher bone density than females, decreased with increased age significantly, mandible show significantly higher bone density than maxilla. Maxilla revealed no significant difference between the three sectors, while in the mandible there was significant difference between posterior sector (613.1HU)and both anterior (821.3 HU) and premolar sectors (779.6 HU) with no significant difference between anterior and premolar sectors. Conclusion: CT-Scan may provide a valuable aid to predict bone quality at potential implant sites and could be used to assess the change of bone density around dental implants.