• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.167-173
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study is to analyze the series of panoramic radiograph of implant patients using the system to measure peri-implant crestal bone loss according to the elapsed time from fixture installation time to more than three years. Methods: Choose 10 patients having 45 implant fixtures installed, which have series of panoramic radiograph in the period to be analyzed by the system. Then, calculated the crestal bone depth and statistics and selected the implant in concerned by clicking the implant of image shown on the monitor by the implemented pattern recognition system. Then, the system recognized the x, y coordination of the implant and peri-implant alveolar crest, and calculated the distance between the approximated line of implant fixture and alveolar crest. By applying pattern recognition to periodic panoramic radiographs, we attained the results and made a comparison with the results of preceded articles concerning peri-implant marginal bone loss. Analyzing peri-implant crestal bone loss in a regression analysis periodic filmed panoramic radiograph, logarithmic approximation had highest $R^2$ value, and the equation is as shown below. $y=0.245Logx{\pm}0.42$, $R^2=0.53$, unit: month (x), mm (y) Results: Panoramic radiograph is a more wide-scoped view compared with the periapical radiograph in the same resolution. Therefore, there was not enough information in the radiograph in local area. Anterior portion of many radiographs was out of the focal trough and blurred precluding the accurate recognition by the system, and many implants were overlapped with the adjacent structures, in which the alveolar crest was impossible to find. Conclusion: Considering the earlier objective and error, we expect better results from an analysis of periapical radiograph than panoramic radiograph. Implementing additional function, we expect high extensibility of pattern recognition system as a diagnostic tool to evaluate implant-bone integration, calculate length from fixture to inferior alveolar nerve, and from fixture to base of the maxillary sinus.