Cone-beam computed tomography assessment of bone using grayscale values in patients with diabetes mellitus. A case–control observational study

Background: The density of cortical and cancellous bone is a key reason for implant anchorage which might be severely affected during diabetes. Aim: The aim of the study was to establish the role of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) using grayscale values in determining bone density in different jaw sites and in comparing the values in healthy with diabetic patients. Materials and Methods: Bone densities in 322 possible implant sites in healthy and diabetic patients were evaluated using NewTomGiano CBCT machine. Cross-sections obtained were assessed for bone densities in terms of Hounsfield Unit on different sites using New Net Technologies software version 6.1. Statistical Analysis: Data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software (version 19.0). Results: Age-wise cortical and cancellous bone densities were compared and no statistical significance was obtained. Gender-wise bone density was compared and significant results were found in males. Jaw-wise bone density was compared and was found to be significantly high in the mandible. The mean cortical bone density in control group was 1608.572 (±380.36), whereas in diabetic group was 1395.368 (±296.97), and the mean cancellous bone density in control was 906.918 (±185.40) and in diabetic was 559.868 (±128.16). Teeth wise in cortical bone significant values were found at premolar region (P = 0.046) and in cancellous bone significant values were found at canine and premolar region (P = 0.012) and highly significant values were found at molar region (P = 0.001). Conclusion: CBCT unveils a distinct pattern of cortical and cancellous bone density. A high degree of concordance between different regions of the mouth in cortical and cancellous bones was obtained in different study groups. CBCT could be used for bone density analysis.