Successful dental implantation: evaluating the accuracy of horizontal and vertical measurements on panoramic radiographs using dental implants as reference objects.

Background: The purpose of this study was to calculate the regional distortions in digital panoramic radiographs and to evaluate the accuracy of panoramic radiography in dental implant treatments. Also, the aim was to determine the vertical and horizontal distortion rate of digital panoramic device by using dental implants as reference objects.

Methods: A retrospective study was designed and implemented, based on the analysis of panoramic radiography records. Postoperative images of implant treatments which did not required bone augmentation procedures included in the study. Measurements were made on images of 554 implants placed, adjacent to at least one tooth in different regions of the jaws. The distortion rate was calculated by determining the ratio of the radiographic dimensions of the implants to the actual implant sizes.

Results: The distortion rate of the digital panoramic device was determined as 1.11 vertically and 1.81 horizontally. Vertically, radiographic measurements were calculated lower than the actual implant lengths as 0.95 mm in the anterior, 0.70 mm in the premolar and 0.60 mm in the molar regions. Horizontally, radiographic measurements were calculated lower than the actual implant width as 0.50 mm in anterior and molar regions and 0.60 mm in premolar region, respectively. These differences were statistically significant (P<0.001).

Conclusions: Considering the results of the device and regional distortion rates, it has been shown that digital panoramic radiography is an effective method to evaluate the existing bone height, especially in the posterior regions of the jaws, when a safe distance to the anatomical structures is maintained.