Accuracy evaluation of cone beam computed tomography applied to measure peri-implant bone thickness in living patients: an ex vivo and in vivo experiment

Objectives This study aims to study the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for measuring peri-implant bone thickness in living patients via a novel visualization method (NVM). Material and methods The validity of the NVM was verified ex vivo by measuring the same peri-implant bone thicknesses in bovine ribs by using raw postoperative CBCT (clinical measurement, CM), the visualized fused images obtained using the NVM (visualized fused measurement, VF), and hard tissue sections (gold standard measurement, GS). The NVM was applied by deconstructing the postoperative CBCT model into the Model(post-bone) and Model(implant) and replacing it with bone from preoperative CBCT and standard implant models, respectively. In vivo, 52 implants were included, and the VF of each implant was obtained using data processing methods similar to those used ex vivo. Then, we compared the results of CM and VF. Results Ex vivo, the VF was similar to GS, while CM usually underestimated the peri-implant bone thickness, especially at the implant shoulder (P < 0.01). In vivo, on CBCT, areas with a peri-implant bone thickness of 0-0.50 mm were not visible, while those with a thickness of 0.50-1.00 mm were occasionally visible. There was less underestimation of bone along the implant long axis. Conclusions Thin peri-implant bones could be completely underestimated on CBCT. CBCT scans alone are insufficient to warrant surgical intervention. Our NVM facilitates the accurate visual assessment of implant dimensions.

Automated summary

This study investigates the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) with a novel visualization method (NVM) for measuring peri-implant bone thickness in living patients. The NVM proved to be valid in ex vivo experiments and allowed for accurate visual assessment of implant dimensions. However, CBCT scans alone were found to be insufficient for surgical intervention, as they often underestimated thin peri-implant bones.