Comparative Assessment of Reliability and Accuracy of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Over Direct Surgical Measurement for Periodontal Bone Loss: A Prospective, Cross-Sectional Study.

Abstract

Assessing bone condition holds significant value in the diagnosis, treatment planning, and prognosing the periodontal disease; its importance is undeniable. The main aimof the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of alveolar bone measurements due to periodontal disease using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), by comparingwith surgical measurements, considered as the gold standard. A prospective cross-sectional study included a sample of 40 individuals diagnosed with chronic periodontitis who required periodontal surgery. A total of 202 sites were assessed for vertical and horizontal bone loss in the anterior (76 sites) and posterior (126 sites) teeth. Bone loss was measured using CBCT and a UNC 15 periodontal probe during the surgical intervention, and then compared. The statistical analysis involved employing a Student's t-test to compare measurements. Unpaired t-tests and correlation analyses were conducted using Pearson's correlation coefficient test. To establish statistical significance, a threshold of p<0.05 was considered appropriate. The statistical analysis carried out on the mean values of CBCTand direct surgical measurements for vertical bone loss demonstrated a significant difference (p<0.01). However, the values obtained for horizontal bone loss did not display statistical significance. A strong correlation of 0.94-0.99 existed between surgical and CBCT measurements. A statistically significant distinction was observed between the two methods in measuringbone loss at the distal and palatal sites of the anterior teeth. Both CBCTand direct surgical measurement exhibit comparableaccuracy potentialin assessing alveolar bone loss. CBCT provides an accessibility advantage by enhancing visual accessto challenging sites during surgical interventions, including palatal and distal areas of the teeth.