OBJECTIVE: Stable esthetic restoration is required for anterior dental implants, assessed over a long-term follow-up. Cross-sectional images obtained using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) allow visualization of the bucco-lingual bone surrounding dental implants; however, the thin labial bone surrounding anterior dental implants is unclear. So, the minimum labial bone thickness surrounding dental implants detected using CBCT images was estimated in the present in vitro study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One dry mandible with five aluminum steps and a titanium rod for simulation of the thin labial bone and dental implant were used. CBCT was performed three times using three exposure volumes, and voxel values of each aluminum step were plotted. Then, the maximum voxel value in each aluminum step as a percentage of that of the 1-mm-thick aluminum step was calculated. RESULTS: The rates for the 0.6-mm-thick aluminum step with a 51- and 102-mm-diameter exposure volume were approximately 50% or greater. CONCLUSIONS: When labial bone surrounding the dental implant was approximately 0.6 mm or greater, it was suggested that it might be visually detectable using CBCT images with a 51- and 102-mm-diameter exposure volume.
OBJECTIVE: Stable esthetic restoration is required for anterior dental implants, assessed over a long-term follow-up. Cross-sectional images obtained using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) allow visualization of the bucco-lingual bone surrounding dental implants; however, the thin labial bone surrounding anterior dental implants is unclear. So, the minimum labial bone thickness surrounding dental implants detected using CBCT images was estimated in the present in vitro study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: One dry mandible with five aluminum steps and a titanium rod for simulation of the thin labial bone and dental implant were used. CBCT was performed three times using three exposure volumes, and voxel values of each aluminum step were plotted. Then, the maximum voxel value in each aluminum step as a percentage of that of the 1-mm-thick aluminum step was calculated. RESULTS: The rates for the 0.6-mm-thick aluminum step with a 51- and 102-mm-diameter exposure volume were approximately 50% or greater. CONCLUSIONS: When labial bone surrounding the dental implant was approximately 0.6 mm or greater, it was suggested that it might be visually detectable using CBCT images with a 51- and 102-mm-diameter exposure volume.