Post-Prosthetic Changes in Dental Implant Radiographic Crestal Alveolar Bone Mass

Objectives: This preliminary study evaluated 12-18 month post-prosthetic loading changes in crestal alveolar bone mass on 47 human dental implants using computer-assisted digital subtraction radiography. Methods: Serial periapical radiographs taken at the time of fixed prosthetic loading, and 12-18 months later, on 47 human root form dental implants possessing square-shape threads (Maestro, Biohorizons) were digitized and subtracted from each other using FDA-approved computer-assisted digital subtraction radiographic software (DSR, Electro Medical Systems). The resulting digital subtraction images were scored for a gain of (indicated by an area of white pixel colors), a loss of (black pixel colors), or no change in (neutral grey pixel colors), crestal alveolar bone mass immediately adjacent to the mesial and distal surfaces of each dental implant studied. Results: An overwhelming proportion (≥85%) of dental implants exhibited stable radiographic crestal alveolar bone mass 12-18 months after prosthetic loading. A subset of dental implants displayed a post-prosthetic loading increase in radiographic crestal alveolar bone mass. Conclusions: These preliminary findings with digital subtraction radiography confirm previous linear crestal alveolar bone height measurements, and indicate that, after a 12-18 month post-prosthetic loading period, human dental implants with a square-shaped thread design exhibit either a high degree of stability or an increase in radiographic crestal alveolar bone mass.