SUBTRACTION RADIOGRAPHY IN ORAL IMPLANTOLOGY

Radiographic examinations in connection with implant installation are important means to diagnose changes in the bone tissue following impla ntation. During the healing and early remodeling phases, a slight redu ction of the marginal bone height occurs in the first year after impla ntation, which is followed by an even smaller annual mean loss in bone height. Conventional radiographs, however, are of limited value for r eliable assessment of subtle alveolar bone changes, although methods w ere developed to standardize the projection geometry of serial radiogr aphs from implants to improve the accuracy in detecting changes of the peri-implant bone height. Newer radiographic diagnostic methods shoul d not only comprise the possibility of metric assessment of bone heigh t but also further information on changes in density. This report emph asizes the potential of digital subtraction radiography as a sensitive diagnostic tool in peri-implant diagnosis. Minute peri-implant densit y changes may occur in the healing phase after implant installation, a fter loading and during the maintenance phase.