ABSTRACT

This paper aims to affirm various new applications of single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) technique by utilizing the pig’s models. Evaluation and subsequent analysis of SPECT results was conducted on the jaws of eight experimental pigs with a total of 16 areas of interest. The various reasons for which each experiment was conducted were evaluated and these reasons include: i) validation of a new bone grafting technique for closure of oro-antral communications, ii) comparison of autogeneous bone graft with other bone grafts, iii) sequential confirmation of osteoblastic activity of the sandwich bone regeneration technique with another technique, iv) validation of the use of a new membrane for guided tissue regeneration (GTR), v) validation of the fact that osseointegration is better with beaded implants than with threaded implants, and vi) validation of the fact that GTR is essential for immediate implant practice. The outcome of this evaluation is critically analysed against the background of the substantial clinical evidence where applicable, so as to appreciate the position of SPECT. Following the evaluation of 16 areas of interest in eight experimental pigs, it was shown that experimental SPECT was valuable in the validation of the above reasons. It appears to be a modality that can continuously be utilized to validate and compare situations which would display osteoblastic activities. It is concluded that the bone scintigraphy imaging technique accurately reflects osteoblastic activities and can now be used to validate osseointegration of any implant or bone-grafting system. This can be done in conjunction with histological and histomorphometic analysis and such results obtained from SPECT should be correlated with the histological and histomorphometric analysis if available.