# Microstructural Evaluation of Dental Implant Success Using Micro-CT: A Comprehensive Review
## 11 Discussion  
In the context of dental implants, micro-CT offers a number of advantages in the evaluation of the bone microstructure surrounding the implants. This is due to the technology's capacity to assess a range of bone parameters, including bone volume, trabecular parameters, and other indicators [76]. Furthermore, this technique enables more precise three-dimensional visualization, facilitating the examination of the interaction between the \begin{table}
\begin{tabular}{c c c c} \hline
**Patient** & **Clinical Depth** & **AI-Generated Depth** & **Deviation** \\ \hline
1 & 12 & 11 & 1 \\
2 & 14 & 13 & 1 \\
3 & 10 & 10 & 0 \\
20 & 11 & 11 & 0 \\ Mean & 12.2 & 12.1 & 0.1 \\ Std dev & 1.3 & 1.2 & 0.1 \\ \hline \end{tabular}
\end{table} 
Table 4: Comparison of implant depth (in millimeters). implant and the surrounding tissue [105]. The utilization of micro-CT in dental implant research offers a means of gaining deeper insight into the osseointegration process and the prospective long-term success of the implant [22]. Additionally, micro-CT can be employed to monitor microstructural alterations over time. This provides valuable information about bone adaptation to the implant and potential complications that may arise [76]. The use of this technology also allows for the development of improved implants, with designs that can be customized based on the microstructural data obtained [106]. Micro-CT is a commonly used technique in bone biology research due to its ability to reveal details of the microarchitecture of the bone [40]. Micro-CT (\(\mu\)CT) is a medical imaging technique that uses X-rays to create 3D images of a sample [76]. In micro-CT, the sample is placed in the X-ray path, and projection images are obtained using a scintillator or another X-ray detector. The images produced by micro-CT are highly accurate and useful in bone biology research. Micro-CT can reveal details of bone microarchitecture, such as BV/TV, Tb. N, Tb. Th, and Tb. Sp. In addition, this technique can also be used to measure fractal dimension (FD), Tb. Pf, DA, and Conn. D as other parameters representing the complexity of the bone microarchitecture. Thus, micro-CT is essential for the quantitative assessment of bone microstructural parameters [40; 107]. In marginal bone loss, The incorporation of micro-CT imaging for the assessment of SMI, Tb. Pf, and BV/TV prior to implant surgery has the potential to significantly enhance the prediction and management of potential MBL, thereby contributing to the long-term success of dental implant treatment. In order to effectively manage MBL in dental implant placement, it is imperative to gain an understanding of the role played by specific trabecular bone parameters. In particular, the SMI, Tb. Pf, and BV/TV should be considered. These parameters offer insight into the quality and quantity of microstructural bone around the implant [61]. The capacity of micro-CT imaging to achieve high contrast resolution in soft tissues is constrained. Nevertheless, the utilization of exogenous contrast agents and spectral CT techniques can facilitate the enhanced visibility of soft tissues. Furthermore, the utilization of photon-counting detectors (PCDs) enables dual-energy micro-CT scans, thereby facilitating the discrimination and differentiation of tissues and contrast agents. The incorporation of deep learning (DL) into micro-CT can facilitate further improvements in image quality and analysis, including the reduction of noise, the segmentation of images, and the correction of artifacts. The application of data-driven approaches and domain-specific knowledge can facilitate the expansion of micro-CT applications. X-ray phase contrast imaging (XPC) represents an alternative method that shows promise in its ability to detect density variations in soft tissues without the need for contrast agents, thus offering a potential avenue for in vivo imaging.