Determination of the Sensitivity of Digital Bone Density Detector Software in Comparison with Densitometer in Detection of Mandibular Bone Density Changes in Vitro

Making effective methods in evaluation of bone density changes are useful in early diagnosis of diseases with manifestation of bone rarefaction or destruction. These methods are also useful in determination of bone healing amount after surgery or graft procedure. In this study, capabilities of digital bone density detector software in diagnosis of bone density changes were searched. Initially, two pieces of samples from each dry human mandible were obtained and radiographed as control groups. Bony samples were decalcified partially in 90 minutes interval using nitric acid solution 15% concentration and after each decalcification period, they were radiographed. Provided conventional radiographs were evaluated by densitometer and observers. Indirect digitized images were also evaluated in similar sites by digital bone density detector software. Results of densitometer, observers and digital bone density detector software finding, were compared with each other by statistical analysis. This investigation shows more ability of digital bone density detector software in diagnosis of bone density changes. Another result was more sensitivity of provided software in comparison with conventional densitometer in diagnosis of cortical bone density changes on indirect digitized images.