Dual X-ray absorptiometry for alveolar bone: precision of peri-implant mineral measurements ex vivo.

The precision of measurements of minor mineral changes in alveolar bone mineral content (ABMC) and alveolar bone mineral density (ABMD) on implant surfaces was determined in small regions (0.03 +/- 0.005 cm2) using dual X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). Dog hemimandibles with alveolar processes containing 17 implants were studied ex vivo. The precision was expressed as the coefficient of variation in percent (c.v. %). The ultra-high resolution protocol was applied to the mesial, distal and apical subregions of each implant. The line spacing was 0.0254 cm and the point resolution was 0.0127 cm. The mean c.v. (%) +/- s.d. for the ABMC in the mesial, distal and apical regions were 0.42 +/- 17, 0.47 +/- 0.21 and 0.48 +/- 0.18, respectively. For the ABMD these values were 0.42 +/- 0.16, 0.47 +/- 0.19 and 0.48 +/- 0.16. For each region approximately 68% of the 17 c.v. values were distributed within 1 s.d. from the mean c.v. These results indicate that measurements are highly reproducible (better than 0.48%) and that there are no differences in precision between several peri-implant regions. Changes as small as 0.85% in ABMC and ABMD in small areas adjacent to implant surfaces are measurable with a confidence level of 95%. Therefore the DXA technique will be expedient for our research evaluating the efficacy of the ceramic hydroxyapatite implant releasing agents affecting or inducing alveolar bone- and root cementum-like materials on its surface.