Evaluation of linear tomography and cone beam computed tomography accuracy in measuring ridge bone width for planning implant placement

ABSTRACT

The development of oral implantology has led to the establishment of various image-acquisitionmethods as important surgical diagnosis tools, such as linear (LT) and cone beam computedtomography (CBCT), indicated for planning implant placement surgeries. However, there still islittle information in the literature regarding details on the difference between the accuracy of thesemethods. Aim: The aim of the present study was to assess the difference between the accuracyof LT and CBCT in measuring ridge bone width. Methods: A sample of ten human skulls wasused, totaling 40 edentulous sites, marked with 2-mm gutta-percha balls in the buccal and lingualplates. Buccal-lingual measurements of ridge width were performed on the images of bothtomography types. Direct caliper measurements were used as control values, to which all LT andCBCT measurements were compared. Results: CBCT images showed significantly more accurateresults in comparison with the direct caliper measurements (p<0.05). Conclusions: CBCTproved more reliable than LT regarding ridge bone measurements for dental implant planning.