Imaging Sci Dent.  2021 Mar;51(1):1-7. 10.5624/isd.20200094.

Assessment of the efficiency of a pre- versus post-acquisition metal artifact reduction algorithm in the presence of 3 different dental implant materials using multiple CBCT settings: An in vitro study

• Shahmirzadi S
• Sharaf RA
• Saadat S
• Moore WS
• Geha H
• Tamimi D
• Kocasarac HD

• KMID: 2527049
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.20200094

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of this study was to assess artifacts generated in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of 3 types of dental implants using 3 metal artifact reduction (MAR) algorithm conditions (pre-acquisition MAR, postacquisition MAR, and no MAR), and 2 peak kilovoltage (kVp) settings.
Materials and Methods
Titanium-zirconium, titanium, and zirconium alloy implants were placed in a dry mandible. CBCT images were acquired using 84 and 90 kVp and at normal resolution for all 3 MAR conditions. The images were analyzed using ImageJ software (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD) to calculate the intensity of artifacts for each combination of material and settings. A 3-factor analysis of variance model with up to 3-way interactions was used to determine whether there was a statistically significant difference in the mean intensity of artifacts associated with each factor.
Results
The analysis of all 3 MAR conditions showed that using no MAR resulted in substantially more severe artifacts than either of the 2 MAR algorithms for the 3 implant materials; however, there were no significant differences between pre- and post-acquisition MAR. The 90 kVp setting generated less intense artifacts on average than the 84 kVp setting. The titanium-zirconium alloy generated significantly less intense artifacts than zirconium. Titanium generated artifacts at an intermediate level relative to the other 2 implant materials, but was not statistically significantly different from either.
Conclusion
This in vitro study suggests that artifacts can be minimized by using a titanium-zirconium alloy at the 90 kVp setting, with either MAR setting.

Keyword

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Artifacts; Dental Implants