Correlation between bone quality evaluated by cone-beam computerized tomography and implant primary stability.

PURPOSE To examine the relationship between bone quality, as evaluated by cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT), and implant primary stability, as measured by resonance frequency analysis (RFA). MATERIALS AND METHODS A preliminary clinical study was conducted in which implant placements were scheduled for 20 patients. The CT scan was obtained after initial drilling, and implant stability was measured with the Osstell Mentor instrument before flap closure. With CBCT, CT numbers of surrounding bone were calculated and the thickness of compact bone was measured at the buccal, lingual, mesial, and distal surfaces of each implant. The correlations between CT numbers and implant stability quotients (ISQs) and between compact bone thickness and ISQs were tested with the Pearson correlation coefficient. RESULTS Overall, 61 implants were examined in 20 patients. The statistics showed that the CT numbers and the thickness of compact bone had strong correlations to ISQs (P < .025). CONCLUSION CT scanning was suggested to be effective for evaluating bone quality and predicting initial implant stability.