Radiographic detection of artificial intra-bony defects in the edentulous area

Abstract

Background: Since intra-bony pathologies might jeopardize implant outcome, their preoperative detection is crucial.

Material and methods: In sixteen human cadaver bloc sections from upper and lower jaws, artificial defects with progressively increasing size (n=7) have been created. From each respective defect, analogue and digital intra-oral radiographs were taken, the latter processed via a periodontal filter and afterwards presented in black-white as well as in colour, resulting in three sets of 7 images per bloc section. Eight observers were asked to diagnosis an eventual defect on randomly presented radiographs, and at another occasion to rank each set based on the defect size.

Results: The clinicians were only able to identify a defect, when the junctional area was involved, except for bony pieces with a very homogeneous structure.

Conclusion: For longitudinal evaluation of healing bone (e.g. after tooth extraction), colour digital images can be recommended. These observations indicate that intra-oral radiographs are not always reliable for the detection of any intra-bony defect.