Basic research on experimental jawbone phantom: Bone mineral density measurement for jawbones using quantitative computed tomography

Jawbone quality is an important factor that affects implant prognosis, and preoperative diagnosis of bone quality is considered significant to assess the predictability of implant treatment. In this study, an experimental jawbone phantom was created and used in quantitative computed tomography (QCT) to accurately measure bone mineral densities (BMDs). Then an examination was performed on the effects of scanning conditions on measured values. In clinical practice, the experimental jawbone phantom will be placed near the patient’s jawbone. Thus, this phantom was shaped in an arch form to be compatible with the jawbone morphology. This phantom contained apatite rods with the following known BMDs used as references: 0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mg/ml. Another jawbone phantom, a reference phantom, was used as a standard, scanned with the experimental phantom, and then used for calibration. Its reference BMDs were 75 and 125 mg/ml. These phantoms were used to examine how the measured values were affected by (1) the height and (2) the left and right positions of the target when scanning the reference phantom and (3) the tilting when scanning the experimental phantom.