Evaluation of Bone Mineral Density Using Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Abstract

Introduction: Bone mineral density (BMD) is an important factor in the use of anchorage device. This study assessed the amount of bone density in the areas from 2.5 and 8.11 mm from maxillary alveolar to basal bone in Hounsfield units. Methodology: The samples included 30 unilateral cleft palate (15 males and 15 females) with the mean age of 14.23±2.5 years and 30 non-clefts (15 males and 15 females) with the mean age of 14±2.59 years. CBCT was used to estimate the values of bone density in Hounsfield units in the cleft and noncleft patients. BMD was measured in 4 heights (2-5-8-11mm) from alveolar bone to basal bone in mesio-distal and bucco-lingual slices in the upper jaw. T-test was used to analyze the bone density values between the cleft and noncleft. Results: The highest alveolar bone density in the mesio-distal slice was 1004± 6 HU between the right and left centrals in the upper jaw in height of 11 mm in non-cleft patients. The least amount of alveolar bone density in the mesio-distal slice was 259±29 HU in tuberosity in height of 11 mm in cleft patients. In non-cleft patients, the most amount of bone density was found 1639± 11 HU between the centrals in height of 11 mm in the bucco-lingual slice. Conclusions: Bone density in cleft patients was lower than in non-cleft patients in all areas and maxillary tuberosity showed the lowest bone density in cleft and non-cleft patients.