Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a Diagnostic Tool for Periodontal Disease: a prospective study with correlation to standard clinical findings - is there added value?

AIM To evaluate the correlation between standard clinical findings, radiographic (OPT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as to assess whether MRI is capable of providing additional information related to the severity and extent of periodontal disease. METHODS 42 patients with generalized periodontitis received pre-interventional MRI scans. These were compared to MR-images of a periodontal healthy control group (n=34). The extent of the osseous edema, detected by MRI, was set in correlation with clinical periodontitis associated findings. RESULTS A highly significant correlation between bone edema and clinical testings such as probing depth (p<0.0001) and bleeding on probing (p<0.0001) was revealed. The edema exceeded the extent of demineralized bone. Patients with a positive BOP test showed a 2.51 fold increase in risk of already having a bone edema around the respective tooth even if probing depth was ≤ 3 mm. (Logistic binary regression analysis, OR 2.51; 95% CI: 1.54-4.11; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION MRI findings correlated with standard clinical findings, and MRI was able to depict intraosseous changes before any osseous defect had occured.