Relationship between alveolar bone measured by 125I absorptiometry with analysis of standardized radiographs: 1. Magiscan.

PREVIOUS STUDIES have shown that 125I absorptiometry gives an accurate and sensitive measure of alveolar bone mass. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between alveolar bone mass determined by 125I absorptiometry and bone density obtained by analysis of standardized intraoral radiographs by the Magiscan System. A defect of increasing size was made at one site of the alveolar bone in a human skull. The amount of bone remaining at each step was calculated using 125I absorptiometry. Standardized radiographs were also taken at each step and the relative density in the area of the defect was determined by the Magiscan System. The Magiscan's System Computer Memory permits analysis of identical areas on a longitudinal series of films of the same alveolar bone location. The results indicate that in estimating amounts of alveolar bone the Magiscan analysis of standardized intraoral radiography is similar in sensitivity and accuracy to 125I absorptiometry.