Time course of bone metabolism at the residual ridge beneath dentures observed using 18F-fluoride positron emission computerized-tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT)

Objective Excessive pressure due to wearing mal-adapting dentures is well known to cause residual bone resorption beneath the denture. X-rays have been commonly utilized to evaluate the changes in the bone beneath the denture. However, X-ray images merely detect bone density and relatively large changes in the bone shape and structure, whereas nuclear medicine imaging can detect functional changes, which occur prior to structural changes. This article aimed to describe the time course of the bone metabolism at the residual ridge beneath the denture following denture use by 18F-fluoride positron emission computerized-tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) scanning.