Matteson S R, Deahl S T, Alder M E, Nummikoski P V
Department of Dental Diagnostic Science, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio 78284-7919, USA.
Crit Rev Oral Biol Med. 1996;7(4):346-95. doi: 10.1177/10454411960070040401.
Recent developments in imaging sciences have enabled dental researchers to visualize structural and biophysical changes effectively. New approaches for intra-oral radiography allow investigators to conduct densitometric assessments of dento-alveolar structures. Longitudinal changes in alveolar bone can be studied by computer-assisted image analysis programs. These techniques have been applied to dimensional analysis of the alveolar crest, detection of gain or loss of alveolar bone density, peri-implant bone healing, and caries detection. Dental applications of computed tomography (CT) include the detailed radiologic anatomy of alveolar processes, orofacial soft tissues and air spaces, and developmental defects. Image analysis software permits bone mass mineralization to be quantified by means of CT data. CT has also been used to study salivary gland disease, injuries of the facial skeleton, and dental implant treatment planning. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been used extensively in retrospective and prospective studies of internal derangements of the temporomandibular joint. Assessments based on MRI imaging of the salivary glands, paranasal sinuses, and cerebrovascular disease have also been reported. Magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) has been applied to the study of skeletal muscle, tumors, and to monitor the healing of grafts. Nuclear imaging provides a sensitive technique for early detection of physiological changes in soft tissue and bone. It has been used in studies of periodontitis, osteomyelitis, oral and maxillofacial tumors, stress fractures, bone healing, temporomandibular joint, and blood flow. This article includes brief descriptions of the technical principles of each imaging modality, reviews their previous uses in oral biology research, and discusses potential future applications in research protocols.
成像科学的最新进展使牙科研究人员能够有效地可视化结构和生物物理变化。口腔内放射摄影的新方法使研究人员能够对牙槽结构进行密度测定评估。牙槽骨的纵向变化可以通过计算机辅助图像分析程序进行研究。这些技术已应用于牙槽嵴的尺寸分析、牙槽骨密度增减的检测、种植体周围骨愈合以及龋齿检测。计算机断层扫描（CT）在牙科的应用包括牙槽突、口腔颌面部软组织和气道的详细放射解剖学以及发育缺陷。图像分析软件可通过CT数据对骨矿物质密度进行量化。CT还被用于研究唾液腺疾病、面部骨骼损伤以及牙种植治疗计划。磁共振成像（MRI）已广泛应用于颞下颌关节内紊乱的回顾性和前瞻性研究。基于MRI对唾液腺、鼻窦和脑血管疾病的评估也有报道。磁共振波谱（MRS）已应用于骨骼肌、肿瘤的研究以及监测移植组织的愈合。核成像为早期检测软组织和骨骼的生理变化提供了一种灵敏的技术。它已用于牙周炎、骨髓炎、口腔颌面部肿瘤、应力性骨折、骨愈合、颞下颌关节和血流的研究。本文简要描述了每种成像方式的技术原理，回顾了它们以前在口腔生物学研究中的应用，并讨论了在研究方案中潜在的未来应用。
