Comprehensive peri-implant tissue evaluation with ultrasonography and cone-beam computed tomography: A pilot study

The aim of the present study was to explore the feasibility of ultrasonography (US) for clinical imaging of peri-implant tissues.

Patients with ≥1 implant, a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan, an US scan, and clinical photographs taken during the surgery were included. The crestal bone thickness (CBT) and facial bone level (FBL) were measured on both US and CBCT modalities, and direct FBL measurements were also made on clinical images. US measurements were compared with CBCT and direct readings.

A total of eight implants from four patients were included. For FBL measurements, US and direct (r2 = 0.95) as well as US and CBCT (r2 = 0.85) were highly correlated, whereas CBCT correlated satisfactorily with the direct reading (r2 = 0.75). In one implant without facial bone, CBCT was not able to measure CBT and FBL accurately. The estimated bias for CBT readings was 0.17 ± 0.23 mm (p = .10) between US and CBCT. US blood flow imaging was successfully recorded and showed a wide dynamic range among patients with different degrees of clinical inflammation.

US is a feasible method to evaluate peri-implant facial crestal bone dimensions. Additional US features, for example, functional blood flow imaging, may be useful to estimate the extent and severity of inflammation.