Influência da região anatômica na formação de artefatos metálicos produzidos por implantes dentários em imagens de tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to compare, quantitatively, the metal artifacts produced in cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images by dental implants installed in different maxillomandibular regions. A total of 200 implants selected from CBCT examinations were divided into four groups: Group 1 (n = 50) - implants located in the anterior maxilla; Group 2 (n = 50) - implants located in the posterior maxilla; Group 3 (n = 50) - implants located in the anterior mandible; and Group 4 (n = 50) - implants located in the posterior mandible. The implants were further classified as isolated or adjacent to other implants. Three axial slices were selected for each sampled implant (apical, middle and cervical). On each slice, the artifacts produced by the implants were counted. The Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare the variables between groups. The Kruskal-Wallis and Student-NewmanKeuls tests were used to compare the axial slices. The mandible showed a greater number of artifacts than the maxilla (apical slice: p = 0.0024; middle slice: p < 0.0001). The anterior region produced more artifacts than the posterior region (apical slice: p = 0.0105; middle slice: p < 0.0316). There was no significant difference in the number of artifacts between isolated and adjacent implants, and the cervical slice was most affected by artifacts. It can be concluded that dental implants always produce metal artifacts in CBCT images, and these artifacts are affected by the anatomical location in the dental arch.