Comparison of the Furcation Involvement by Clinical Probing and Cone Beam Computed Tomography with True Level of Involvement during Flap Surgery

Abstract

ABSTRACT Aim The aim of the study was to evaluate and compare the clinical probing and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging technique for examination of the furcation involvement with the true level of involvement seen during open flap surgery (OFS). Materials and methods The study included 22 patients (50 molar teeth) who met the inclusion and exclusion criteria with at least one molar tooth with grade II or III furcation involvement. After phase I therapy, furcation involvement was measured using both clinical probing and CBCT imaging technique. The measurements obtained during the OFS were then compared with those obtained by clinical probing and CBCT. To avoid bias, the assessments of furcation involvement by all three techniques were done by three different examiners. Results The agreement in the furcation gradings between clinical and CBCT findings gave a Cohen Kappa value of 0.03 [statistically insignificant (p = 0.80)] and between clinical and open surgical measurements gave a Cohen Kappa value of 0.11 [statistically insignificant (p = 0.38)]. However, agreement in the furcation gradings between CBCT and open surgical measurements gave a Cohen Kappa value of 0.89 and it was statistically significant (p = 0.001). Conclusion Thus, the results indicated that there was the highest agreement between measurements obtained using CBCT imaging technique and true level of involvement seen during OFS (89%) when compared to clinical and OFS measurements (11%) and clinical and CBCT measurements (3%). Clinical significance Thus, CBCT can be considered as an efficient diagnostic tool to accurately assess osseous defects at furcation sites when compared to clinical probing. How to cite this article Aghanashini S, Jayachandran C, Mundinamane DB, Nadiger S, Bhat D, Andavarapu S. Comparison of the Furcation Involvement by Clinical Probing and Cone Beam Computed Tomography with True Level of Involvement during Flap Surgery. World J Dent 2017;8(4):267-272.