Ex vivo comparison of CBCT and digital periapical radiographs for the quantitative assessment of periodontal defects.

Abstract

Accurate imaging is essential for effective treatment planning in periodontology. The aim of this ex vivo study was to investigate the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital periapical radiographs (PA) in imaging periodontal defects. Hypotheses are: 1. That CBCT is a more accurate method than PA concerning vertical measurements of periodontal bone defects2. That CBCT itself is an accurate method to describe vertical periodontal bone loss MATERIAL AND METHODS: In this study, 117 periodontal defects from 10 human cadavers were investigated radiographically by CBCT and PA by one calibrated observer. Afterwards the vertical bone loss was measured with a periodontal probe by the same calibrated observer. Differences between radiographic and clinical measurements were calculated and analyzed. Bland-Altmann plots including 95% limits of agreement were calculated. The 95% limits of agreement ranged from 3.29 to -3.27mm between clinical measurements and measurements in PAs, and from 2.13 to -1.97mm in CBCTs. The mean difference between clinical and radiographic measurements was 0.0009mm for PA and 0.0835mm for CBCT. When comparing the clinical measurements, CBCT had a higher agreement and less deviations than PAs, and CBCT seems to be an accurate method to describe vertical periodontal bone loss. Accurate description of defects is helpful for accurate treatment planning.