Measuring of Mandible Bone Density in Dogs Using /Digital Radiography/ Radiovisigraphy

Abstract

Radiological diagnostics serves as one of the basic monitoring techniques in veterinary dental practice. The recent up-to-date literature data based on the findings of digital radiology/radiovisiography (RVG) in general dentistry inspired the authors to present its possible use in clinical veterinary dentistry. The digital radiography used in this study was RVG Trophy Radiologie SA 2001 device equipped with software for linear measurements (readings), densitometry, setting of contrast of radiography image, 3D image manipulation, zooming of detail and orientation handling. The aim of the study was to evaluate the bone mineral density of the alveolar part of the lower jaw in seven Scottish terriers. Bone mineral density measurement was performed around the central lower incisors by converting gray scale values into equivalent aluminum thickness (mm Al). The mean bone mineral density was in the range of 4.31-6.20 mm Al with no significant statistical difference between left and right incisors (p>0.01). Our results showed that the combination of RVG and aluminum step wedge etalon is a reliable tool to measure bone mineral density around the lower central incisors in dogs. This method can be considered as comfortable for manipulation in everyday use in clinical veterinary practice.

Radiološka dijagnostika služi kao jedna od osnovnih tehnika praćenja stadijuma bolesti u veterinarskoj medicini. Najnoviji podaci iz literature govore o prednostima digitalne radiologije/radioviografi je (RVG) inspirisao je autore da predstave njenu moguću primenu u kliničkoj veterinarskoj stomatologiji. Digitalna radiografi ja korišćena u ovom istraživanju ostvarena je upotrebom uređaja RVG Trophy Radiologie SA 2001 opremljenog moćnim programom za linearna merenja (očitavanja), denzitometriju, doterivanje kontrasta na radiogramu, trodimenzionalnu manipulaciju slike, uveličavanje detalja i njegovo orijentisanje. Cilj studije bio je da se proceni gustina koštane mase alveolarnog dela donje vilice kod sedam jorkširskih terijera. Merenje kostne gustine urađeno je na centralnim donjim sekutićima konverzijom jedinica sivobele skale u ekvivalentnu debljinu aluminijuma (mm Al). Prosečna vrednost gustine kosti bila je u opsegu od 4,31 - 6,20 mm Al bez značajne statističke razlike između levog i desnog sekutića (p>0,01). Naši rezultati su pokazali da je kombinacija RVG i aluminijumskog etalona pouzdano način za merenje gusutine koštanog tkiva oko donjih centralnih sekutića pasa. Ovaj se metod može smatrati pogodnim za svakodnevnu upotrebu u kliničkoj veterinarskoj praksi.