Quantitative structural analysis of trabecular alveolar bone in the mandible by multidetector computed tomography: Differences according to tooth presence and type

Abstract Background and objective There is a lack of quantitative measures of the quality of alveolar trabecular bone, an important factor in implantology. This study aimed to develop a method of objectively assessing the quality of trabecular bone by means of image processing and structural analysis of multidetector computed tomography images and to establish differences between tooth types and tooth presence/absence. Materials and methods We analysed 20 patients who underwent multidetector computed tomography to evaluate mandibular bone and tooth positioning. Image analysis included automatic segmentation of the mandible, obtainment of sections perpendicular to the dental arch, and structural analysis of the trabecular bone in each section. We calculated the ratio between the volume of bone and the total volume of the section, the thickness, the trabecular number, and the mean attenuation in Hounsfield units. We analysed the differences among different tooth types (incisors, canines, premolars, and molars) and between present and absent teeth. Results We found statistically significant differences between different tooth types and between sections in which teeth were present or absent. Incisors had a greater ratio of trabecular bone; the ratio of trabecular bone progressively decreased from the incisors to the canines, premolars, and molars. The ratio of trabecular bone was greater in sections in which teeth were absent than in those in which teeth were present. Conclusions The method allows to quantify the structural properties of alveolar bone from multidetector computed tomography images. Our results provide an objective picture of the bone substrate that can be useful for planning and following up dental implant procedures.