Alveolar bone density measurements

Objective: Oral implant procedures necessitate the assessment of alveolar bone, a vital tooth-supporting structure. While micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is the gold standard for bone volume fraction measurement for its high spatial resolution and contrast between bone and soft tissue, its substantial radiation exposure limits use to ex vivo specimens. This study evaluates the accuracy of 1.5T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in determining bone volume fraction, using micro-CT as the reference. Results: Twenty-one alveolar bone specimens (mean age: 52.9 years; range: 24–82; M/F: 15/6) were subjected to 1.5T MRI. The comparison between 1.5T and 14T MRI demonstrated a statistically significant correlation (r = 0.76, p < 0.0001), similar to the comparison with micro-CT (r = 0.70, p < 0.0001). Consistency in results was affirmed through repeated scans and analytical recalculations. Conclusion