[Evaluation of using cone beam computed tomography as a regular test before and after periodontal regenerative...

To test the accuracy and credibility of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) on measuring the height and volume of alveolar bone defects before periodontal regeneration surgery. By comparing the bone density measured by CBCT before and after the operation, the time to evaluate the efficacy of the periodontal regenerative surgery would be determined.

Periodontal regenerative surgeries were performed on three-wall bone defects of ten teeth in nine patients. The height of bone defects was measured using both periapical film of distant parallel technique and CBCT before periodontal regenerative surgery. Before the surgery, CBCT data were used to measure the volume of the bone defects and the bone density around the defective areas. The height of the bone defects was measured during periodontal regeneration surgery, and the volume of the defective areas was obtained with bone wax in operation. CBCT was taken 6, 12 and 24 weeks after surgery to measure the bone density in the regenerated region.

The Wilcoxon test showed that the height of the bone defects measured preoperatively using periapical film was (0.822±0.222) mm deeper than the intraoperative measurement results, and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05). Whereas CBCT measurement results was (0.150±0.171) mm less than the intraoperative measurement results, without statistical significant (P>0.05). The regression analysis and the Bland-Altman method also showed that the results of CBCT measurement were more accurate. The Wilcoxon test showed that the bone defect volume measured by CBCT preoperatively was accurate, and the difference between the preoperative and the intraoperative measurements was not statistically significant, ranging from 0.38 to 2.83 mm3 (P>0.05). The bone density of the regenerated areas measured by CBCT was (0.49±0.03) times in the sixth week, (0.74±0.09) times in the twelfth week and (1.16±0.11) times in the twentieth week as that of the areas around the bone defects after the surgery.

The present data suggest that using CBCT before periodontal regenerative surgery could result in accurate measurement of height and volume of alveolar bone defects. For the purpose of evaluating the effectiveness of regenerative surgery, CBCT could be taken 24 weeks after surgery.