An Auxiliary Measurement Method for Marginal Bone Loss around Dental Implants Based on Periapical Radiographs

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Radiology
• Dental Implantology

Background:

• Peri-implant marginal bone loss is a critical indicator of implant health.
• Conventional assessment methods are subjective and inefficient.
• Accurate quantification is essential for monitoring implant stability and early risk detection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an automated, precise quantification method for peri-implant marginal bone loss.
• To overcome limitations of subjective expert judgment in bone loss assessment.
• To enhance monitoring of marginal bone level stability and facilitate early detection of clinical risk factors.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the YOLOv8-pose model for automated detection and localization of keypoints related to peri-implant bone loss.
• Developed an efficient method for quantifying marginal bone loss characteristics.
• Evaluated model performance using marginal bone loss rate to predict resorption severity.

Main Results:

• Achieved keypoint detection precision exceeding 98% with a mean radial error below 10 pixels.
• Demonstrated high accuracy in predicting marginal bone loss severity (0.906 and 0.844) on both implant sides.
• The model shows robust predictive capability and significant application potential.

Conclusions:

• The YOLOv8-pose-based method enhances automation and objectivity in peri-implant marginal bone loss detection.
• Effectively addresses the inefficiency and subjectivity of traditional assessment techniques.
• Provides valuable technical support for accurate evaluation and clinical decision-making in peri-implant marginal bone loss management.