Assessing Alveolar Bone Volume Fraction in Dental Implantology Using 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging: An Ex Vivo...

Objective: Oral implant procedures necessitate assessment of alveolar bone, a vital tooth-supporting structure. While micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is the gold standard for bone volume fraction assessment for its high spatial resolution and bone/soft tissue contrast, its substantial radiation exposure limits its use to specimens or small animals. This study evaluates the accuracy of 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining bone volume fraction, a surrogate of bone density, using micro-CT as the reference. Methods: Twenty-one alveolar bone biopsy specimens, which had undergone cone beam CT, micro-CT, and 14T MRI in a previous study, were subjected to 1.5T MRI. Results: The comparison between bone volume fraction measured by 1.5T MRI and micro-CT demonstrated a statistically significant correlation (r = 0.70, p < 0.0001). Consistency in results was investigated through repeated scans and repeated scanning and analyses. Conclusion: 1.5T MRI may be an effective, radiation-free tool for alveolar bone volume fraction assessment.