PURPOSE: Metal artifacts from dental implants have not been clarified in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in previous studies. Hence, only mesiodistal metal artifacts from dental implants in the posterior mandibular region were assessed using CBCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with a total of 61 dental implants in posterior mandibular sites were enrolled. The pixel values surrounding dental implants were measured using CBCT and rotational panoramic radiography, and then the means were calculated. RESULTS: The mean pixel values between dental implants, between dental implants and neighboring teeth, and posterior to dental implants were significantly lower than between neighboring teeth in CBCT. In addition, the mean pixel value between dental implants did not significantly differ from that between neighboring teeth in rotational panoramic radiography. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that mesiodistal metal artifacts surrounding dental implants are demonstrated on CBCT.
PURPOSE: Metal artifacts from dental implants have not been clarified in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in previous studies. Hence, only mesiodistal metal artifacts from dental implants in the posterior mandibular region were assessed using CBCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty-two patients with a total of 61 dental implants in posterior mandibular sites were enrolled. The pixel values surrounding dental implants were measured using CBCT and rotational panoramic radiography, and then the means were calculated. RESULTS: The mean pixel values between dental implants, between dental implants and neighboring teeth, and posterior to dental implants were significantly lower than between neighboring teeth in CBCT. In addition, the mean pixel value between dental implants did not significantly differ from that between neighboring teeth in rotational panoramic radiography. CONCLUSIONS: It was concluded that mesiodistal metal artifacts surrounding dental implants are demonstrated on CBCT.