The Journal of Practical Medicine ›› 2026, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (8): 1332-1340.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1006-5725.2026.08.004

• Chronic Disease Control • Previous Articles    

Cone beam CT image measurement of alveolar bone changes in patients with periodontitis and its clinical significance

Jing HUANG1,Shuang HAN2,Xuemei ZHAO1,Yuan CHEN3,Yinfeng QIAN1()   

  1. 1.Department of Radiology,the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University,Hefei 230022,Anhui,China
    2.Department of Orthodontics,Hefei Stomatological Hospital,Hefei 230001,Anhui,China
    3.Department of Periodontology,Hefei Stomatological Hospital,Hefei 230001,Anhui,China
  • Received:2025-12-03 Online:2026-04-25 Published:2026-04-28
  • Contact: Yinfeng QIAN E-mail:894206876@qq.com

Abstract:

Objective To explore the value and clinical significance of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in measuring alveolar bone changes in patients with periodontitis. Methods The clinical data of 126 patients with periodontitis (2,764 teeth) admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University from January 2023 to January 2025 were retrospectively analyzed, and the above patients received periodental non-surgical treatment for 6 months. The differences in alveolar bone defect height (BDH) and alveolar bone mineral density (BMD) before and after treatment were compared among patients with different genders, different ages, different severities of periodontitis and different teeth positions. Results Before and after treatment, male patients exhibited higher BDH and BMD than female patients (P < 0.05). After treatment, BDH of patients with different genders was decreased while BMD was increased compared to before treatment (P < 0.05). Before and after treatment, BDH comparison of patients of different ages was the highest in patients over 50 years old, followed by patients with 30-50 years old and patients under 30 years old. BMD comparison was the lowest in patients over 50 years old, followed by patients with 30-50 years old, and was the highest in patients under 30 years old. After treatment, BDH in patients over 50 years old and 30-50 years old was lowered (P < 0.05) while BMD was elevated compared to before treatment (P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in BDH and BMD in patients under 30 years old compared to before treatment (P > 0.05). Before and after treatment, the BDH of patients with different severities of periodontitis was manifested as severe patients>moderate patients>mild patients, while BMD was shown as severe patients<moderate patients<mild patients (P < 0.05), mainly revealing mesial side>distal side>buccal side>lingual side. After treatment, BDH in mild, moderate and severe patients was reduced while BMD was enhanced compared to before treatment (P < 0.05). Comparison of BDH in different positions before and after treatment revealed molar area>premolar area>anterior teeth area, and BMD comparison showed molar area<premolar area<anterior teeth area (P < 0.05), and mesial side> distal side>buccolingual side. After treatment, BDH in molar area and premolar area was lower than that before treatment while BMD was higher than that before treatment (P < 0.05). There were no statistical differences in BDH and BMD in the anterior teeth area before and after treatment (P > 0.05). Conclusion CBCT images can effectively quantify the changes of alveolar bone in periodontitis, and can provide a scientific basis for the accurate diagnosis and treatment of periodontitis by imaging methods.

Key words: cone beam computed tomography, periodontitis, bone mineral density

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