RADIOGRAPHIC ASSESSMENT OF CHANGES IN MARGINAL BONE AROUND ENDOSSEOUSIMPLANTS SUPPORTING MANDIBULAR OVERDENTURES

Objectives: To evaluate the reliability of a new method for quantifica tion of radiographic changes in the marginal bone around implants. Met hods: Three groups of seven patients treated with an overdenture suppo rted by two endosseous implants (Branemark, n = 7 patients; IMZ, n = 7 patients; ITI Benefit, n = 7 patients) were selected. Six weeks after loading the implants, radiographs were obtained using the long cone t echnique and an aiming device, scanned and digitized, Two observers me asured the height and area of the peri-implant bone defects twice. The difference between measurements was statistically analysed using pair ed t-tests. Results: There were small differences in interobserver err or for the Branemark implant system (P<0.05), but no significant diffe rences for the IMZ and ITI Benefit. There were no significant differen ces in intraobserver error with any of the three implant systems (P>0. 05). Conclusions: The newly developed technique by measuring the area of the defect overcomes some drawbacks of existing techniques for quan tification of peri-implant bone loss in the mandible.