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Dose inhomogeneities on surfaces of different dental implants during irradiation with high-energy photons.

Binger T, Seifert H, Blass G, Bormann KH, Rücker M

*Correspondence to: Dr Thomas Binger, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, University Clinic Homburg, D-66421 Homburg/Saar, Germany; E-mail: zmktbin@uniklinik-saarland.de.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the radiation doses in mucosa and bone close to the surface of different dental implant materials. METHODS: Radiation dose was measured at the interface of bone or soft tissue and various implant materials for 6 MV photons generated by a medical linear accelerator using a phantom and ultrathin thermoluminescent dosemeters. RESULTS: Increasing thickness of implant materials resulted in a dose decrease in bone immediately behind the implants. Directly in front of titanium implants, dose increases of 18.2% and 30.4% were found in bone and soft tissue, respectively, independent of implant thickness and surface structure (polished/plasma coated). Even a titanium coating with 70 microm hydroxyapatite did not affect the scattering dose. In contrast, for aluminium oxide ceramics, a scatter-induced notable dose increase could not be assessed. CONCLUSIONS: During irradiation with high-energy photons, an implant-induced dose enhancement could be reduced in bone using the technique of multiple fields and in soft tissue using ceramic abutments.

Published 4 March 2008 in Dentomaxillofac Radiol, 37(3): 149-53.
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