Radiographic Evaluation - criteria for endosteal implants
Surgical and interventional imaging involves imaging the patient during and immediately after surgery and during the placement of the prosthesis. The purpose of surgical imaging is to evaluate the depth of implant placement, the position and orientation of implants/osteotomies, and to evaluate donor or graft sites.
The patient can be generally imaged at chair side with periapical radiography to determine implant/osteotomy depth, position, and orientation and subsequently, after 6-8 weeks to evaluate radiographic changes for levels of osseointegration .
Digital periapical image receptors enable virtually instantaneous image acquisition, produce image quality similar to that of dental film, and enable the surgical procedure to proceed without undue delay.
Additional features of digital imaging include image enhancement and the use of digital measuring techniques, which help the surgeon in establishing the optimum depth and orientation of the implants.