Cone-beam computed tomography for assessment of palatal displaced canine position: A methodological study

Abstract

To assess the inter- and intraexaminer reliability of a measurement method for evaluation of eruption angles and position of palatal displaced canines (PDCs) with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images and to test the validity of the measured angles on a dry skull. Twenty patients (eight boys, 12 girls; age 11.4±1.2 years) were randomly chosen among 67 patients from a study evaluating the interceptive effect of extracting the deciduous canine in children with PDCs. In total, 60 images were analyzed, because each patient had three CBCT examinations (baseline, 6-month control, and endpoint). Two observers assessed the following measurements twice: mesioangular and sagittal angle, vertical position, canine cusp tip, and canine apex to dental arch. The validity of the angular measurements was tested against angular measurements on a dry skull using mathematical formulations. The inter- and intraexaminer mean differences for angular and linear measurements were all low and statistically insignificant (P>.05). The mean differences between the physical and 3D measurements were 0.5±0.39 mm for the sagittal angle and 0.22±0.19 mm for the mesioangular angle. Linear and angular measurements on CBCT images are accurate and precise and can be used to assess the precise position of a PDC.