Is micro‐computed tomography reliable to determine the microstructure of the maxillary alveolar bone?. Issue 7 (30th April 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: González‐García, Raúl; Monje, Florencio
• Is Part Of: Clinical oral implants research. Volume 24:Issue 7(2013:Jul.)
• Page Start: 730
• Page End: 737
• Publication Date: 2012-04-30
• Subjects: Dental implants -- Research -- Periodicals; 617.69
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0501.2012.02478.x
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0905-7161

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="clr2478-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="clr2478-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>To analyze the reliability of micro‐computed tomography (micro‐CT) to assess bone density and the microstructure of the maxillary bones at the alveolar process in human clinics by direct comparison with conventional stereologic‐based histomorphometry.</p> </sec> <sec id="clr2478-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Materials and methods</title> <p>Analysis of osseous microstructural variables including bone volumetric density (BV/TV) of 39 biopsies from the maxillary alveolar bone was performed by micro‐CT. Conventional stereologic‐based histomorphometry of 10 bone biopsies was performed by optic microscopy (OM) and low‐vacuum surface electronic microscopy (SEM). Percentages of bone between micro‐CT and conventional stereologic‐based histomorphometry were compared.</p> </sec> <sec id="clr2478-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Significant positive correlations were observed between BV/TV and the percentage of bone (%Bone) analyzed by SEM (<italic>r</italic> = 0.933, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001), by toluidine blue staining OM (<italic>r</italic> = 0.950, <italic>P</italic> < 0.001) and by dark field OM (<italic>r</italic> = 0.667, <italic>P</italic> = 0.05). The high positive correlation coefficient between BV/TV and trabecular thickness illustrates that a value of BV/TV upper than 50% squares with a bone presenting most of their trabecules thicker than 0.2 mm. The high negative correlation between BV/TV and trabecular separation shows that values of BV/TV upper than 50% squares with a bone presenting most of their trabecules separated less than 0.3 mm each other.</p> </sec> <sec id="clr2478-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion</title> <p>BV/TV assessed by micro‐CT correlates with the percentage of bone assessed by conventional stereologic‐based histomorphometry. Micro‐CT is a reliable technique to determine the bone density and the microstructure of the maxillary alveolar bone at the site of dental implant insertion.</p> </sec> </abstract>