Accuracy Of Cone Beam Computed Tomography Research Articles

Identification of Middle Mesial Canal in Mandibular Molars Using Five Different Techniques: An In vitro Study

ABSTRACT Aim: The purpose of the study was to find out the incidence of the middle mesial canal in mandibular molars by using five different techniques. Materials and Methods: A total of 150 extracted human mandibular first molars were selected, and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were taken. Then, conventional access cavities were made, followed by troughing under dental loupes (3X), and were also examined under a dental operating microscope (DOM) (6X). Incidence of intermediate canals was noted from all these stages. Later, these teeth underwent a clearing method procedure, and incidence was noted from this stage and compared. Results: The overall diagnostic accuracy of CBCT (9 mm) had 97.48%, and evaluation under DOM had an overall accuracy of 97.33%. The least accuracy was found with the naked eye (92.67%). Conclusion: This study advocates the usage of newer methods like CBCT and DOM to find out and negotiate these accessory canals.

Create virtual dentoskeletal model by superimposing digital dental cast into cone-beam computed tomography scan.

Many artifacts and obstacles associated with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan can obscure or distort the details of the teeth and occlusal surface, like distorted teeth, streak artifacts, noise, and some malocclusion cases with excessive overlapping between jaws cause decrease the interocclusal space, which can impact diagnosis and treatment planning, and the 3D reconstruction accuracy. Optimizing dental precision by Integrating CBCT scans with other imaging modalities, supply more information to enhance CBCT accuracy, mainly in dental areas with limited clarity. Performing the Structure-from-Motion (SfM) photogrammetry method, using phone camera and photograph studio setup using simple hardware, to digitize the dental casts and obtain an accurate digital dental model. Using this digital dental model to enhance dental precision in the CBCT data by performing the superimposition process, using a surface-based registration method and integration process to create a virtual dentoskeletal model. Evaluate the accuracy and quality of the superimposition results using qualitative (visual inspection) and quantitative measures. The differences between the virtual dentoskeletal model and the reference CBCT model are calculating by the 3D Euclidean distance, the mean ± SD are 0.212 ± 0.169mm and 0.26 ± 0.149mm for the maxilla and mandible, respectively. The color-coded map shows that the two surfaces are similar, but the extremist values are concentrated in the dental region due to the presence of the noise in the reference model and the gingiva in the virtual dentoskeletal model. The resulting virtual dentoskeletal model can be viewed and manipulated on a computer screen, allowing for a detailed analysis of the teeth and supporting structures. The 3D model generated by the SfM photogrammetry technique did well during the superimposition process, representing a reliable method for virtual-based processing such as orthognathic surgery planning and splint design.

Comparative efficacy of digital panoramic radiograph and cone beam computed tomography in locating mandibular foramen.

The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of panoramic radiographs (PAN) with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in locating the position of the mandibular foramen (MF). A total of 100 patients who underwent CBCT and panoramic imaging were included in the study. The location of the MF was evaluated anterior-posteriorly and superior-inferiorly on both CBCT and panoramic radiographs. Measurements were taken by two examiners, reviewed by a radiologist, and intra-examiner variability was assessed. A comparison of statistical analysis was performed using the Mann-Whitney U test, independent and paired t-test. A p-value ≤0.05 was deemed significant. The mean age of the patients was 35.03 years, with 51% females and 49% males. CBCT and panoramic radiographs showed comparable accuracy in locating the left (p=0.937) and right (p=0.371) MF anterior-posteriorly. In the superior-inferior dimension, the accuracy of CBCT and panoramic radiographs were comparable in locating the right (p=0.292) and left (p=0.640) MF. The gender-based accuracy of PAN and CBCT radiographs in locating the right (p=0.353) and left (p=0.985) MF was comparable. The study concludes that panoramic radiographs showed comparable accuracy in effectively locating MF in comparison to CBCT. The influence of gender and anatomic location (right and left sides of MF) on MF identification with panoramic radiographs was insignificant. Digital panoramic radiographs are an effective tool in accurately identifying MF location in clinical practice.

Accuracy of CBCT in Preoperative Assessment of Impacted Canines vs. Panoramic Radiography

ABSTRACT Background: Accurate assessment of impacted canines is crucial for successful treatment planning. Radiographic techniques like Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) and Panoramic Radiography are commonly used, but their comparative accuracy remains under scrutiny. Materials and Methods: In this study, 50 patients diagnosed with impacted canines were enrolled. Both CBCT and Panoramic Radiography images were obtained for each patient using standard protocols. Two experienced dentists independently analyzed the images to determine the position of impacted canines and their relationship with neighboring structures. Results: The findings of this study revealed that CBCT provided superior accuracy in assessing the position of impacted canines compared to Panoramic Radiography. Specifically, CBCT demonstrated a mean accuracy rate of 89.5%, while Panoramic Radiography showed a mean accuracy rate of 72.3%. Moreover, CBCT allowed for better visualization of impacted canine angulation, depth, and spatial orientation. Panoramic Radiography, on the other hand, displayed limitations in precisely identifying the impacted canine’s position. Conclusion: The study’s outcomes underscore the higher accuracy of CBCT over Panoramic Radiography in the preoperative assessment of impacted canines. CBCT’s detailed imaging provides valuable insights for treatment planning, potentially leading to improved surgical outcomes. Although CBCT entails greater radiation exposure and cost, its benefits in accurate diagnosis and treatment planning justify its use in cases of impacted canines.

Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of cone beam computed tomography and multi-detector computed tomography for detection of anatomical variations in rhinoplasty

BackgroundDifferent imaging techniques, such as multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) scan and cone beam computed tomography(CBCT), are used to check the structure of the nose before rhinoplasty. This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of two imaging techniques, MDCT scan, and CBCT, in diagnosing structural Variations in rhinoplasty for the first time.MethodsThis diagnostic accuracy study was conducted on 64 rhinoplasty candidates who complained of snoring and sleep apnea or had a positive result in the examination with Cottle’s maneuver or modified Cottle technique between February 2021 and October 2022 at 15- Khordad Hospital affiliated to Beheshti University of Medical Sciences. Before rhinoplasty, patients were randomly assigned to one of the CT and CBCT techniques with an equal ratio. Scans were assessed for the presence of Nasal septum deviation (NSD), Mucocele, Concha bullosa, and nasal septal spur by two independent radiologists. The findings of the two methods were evaluated with the results during rhinoplasty as the gold standard.ResultsNSD was the most common anatomical variation based on both imaging techniques. The accuracy of CBCT for diagnosing Nasal Septum Deviation and Mucocele was 80% and 75%, respectively. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CBCT in detecting Concha bullosa were 81.3% and 83.3%, respectively. The Kappa coefficient between CBCT and intraoperative findings for diagnosing NSD and Concha Bullosa was 0.76 and 0.73, respectively (p < 0.05).ConclusionCBCT can be considered a suitable method with high accuracy and quality to evaluate the anatomical variations before rhinoplasty.

Characteristics of detection accuracy of the patient setup using InBore optical patient positioning system.

This study aimed to evaluate the detection accuracy of the AlignRT-InBore system in surface-guided radiation therapy using a phantom and to determine the feasibility of the system by conducting a comparative analysis with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) registration. The AlignRT-InBore system integrated with the ETHOS Therapy was used. A phantom and a QUASAR phantom were employed to examine the specific areas of interest relevant to clinical cases. The evaluation involved monitoring translations for approximately 30 min and assessing the position detection accuracy for static and moving objects. Fifty clinical cases were used to evaluate the position detection accuracy and its relationship with the localization accuracy of CBCT before treatment. The detection accuracy of static and moving objects was within 1.0 mm using the phantom. However, the longitudinal direction tended to be larger than the other directions. Regarding the accuracy of localization in clinical cases, a strong and statistically significant (p<0.01) correlation was observed in each direction. A detection accuracy within 1.0 mm is possible for static and moving objects. The detection accuracy of the patient setup using the InBore optical patient positioning system was extremely high, and the patient could be detected with high precision, suggesting its usefulness.

Are multi-detector computed tomography and cone-beam computed tomography exams and software accurate to measure the upper airway? A systematic review.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has several applications in various fields of dental medicine such as diagnosis and treatment planning. When compared to computed tomography (CT), CBCT's radiation exposure dose is decreased by 3%-20%. However, CBCT produces more scattered signals and may present poorer image quality when compared to medical CT. To review the findings regarding the accuracy of multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and CBCT and to compare the different software programs that segment the upper airway. Three databases (PubMed, Medline, and Web of Science) were searched for articles and a manual search was performed. The inclusion criteria were defined following the PICO framework: P-any patient with a CBCT or CT; I-dimensional evaluation of the upper airway using MDCT or CBCT; C-phantoms; O-the primary outcome was MDCT and CBCT accuracy, the secondary outcome was the evaluation and comparison of software programs used to segment the upper airway. Articles that met eligibility criteria were assessed using the Critical Appraisal Skills Program Checklist. Among the 16 eligible studies, 6 articles referred to the accuracy of MDCTs or CBCTs and 10 to the accuracy of the software. Most articles were qualified as high quality. MDCT and CBCT scans' accuracy in upper airway dimensional measurements depends on machine brand, parameters, and segmentation technique. Regarding the segmentation technique, 12 programs were studied. Most either underestimated or overestimated upper airway measurements. In particular, OnDemand3D and INVIVO showed poor accuracy. On the contrary, Invesalius, and MIMICS were accurate in assessing nasal cavities when using an interactive threshold. However, results varied due to methodological differences among the studies. Finally, fully automatic segmentation based on artificial intelligence may represent the future of airway segmentation because it is faster and seems to be accurate. However, further studies are necessary. This study was registered in Prospero (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews) with the ID number CRD42022373998.

Accuracy of CBCT and intraoral scanner images for measuring tooth widths and Bolton’s ratio: a comparative study with gold standard (plaster models) in Duhok’s adult population

The study aims to compare the accuracy and reliability of tooth width measurements and Bolton ratios among plaster models (PM), cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), and intraoral scanner (IOS). This three-way comparison has not been previously conducted in existing studies. Seventy-two patients (aged 19–36) were selected from the University of Duhok clinic. PM, CBCT, and IOS images were obtained. Tooth widths and Bolton ratios were measured on plaster models and digital models (CBCT and IOS mages). Reliability was assessed by repeating all measurements after one month by the same examiner. The measurement accuracy and reliability were assessed through Repeated Measures ANOVA and ICC analysis. ICC results showed reliable measurements of tooth widths for PM, CBCT, and IOS (R = 0.90, 0.98, and 0.99 respectively). P-values for tooth widths and Bolton ratios between groups were all > 0.05. The ICC analysis revealed a strong correlation between the measurements of tooth widths and Bolton ratios obtained through the three distinct methods. PM, CBCT, and IOS can be used interchangeably in orthodontic diagnosis for accurate and reliable measurement of tooth widths and Bolton ratios (anterior and overall).

Accuracy of Intra-Oral Radiography and Cone Beam Computed Tomography in the Diagnosis of Buccal Bone Loss.

The use of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in dentistry started in the maxillofacial field, where it was used for complex and comprehensive treatment planning. Due to the use of reduced radiation dose compared to a computed tomography (CT) scan, CBCT has become a frequently used diagnostic tool in dental practice. However, published data on the accuracy of CBCT in the diagnosis of buccal bone level is lacking. The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of intra-oral radiography (IOR) and CBCT in the diagnosis of the extent of buccal bone loss. A dry skull was used to create a buccal bone defect at the most coronal level of a first premolar; the defect was enlarged apically in steps of 1 mm. After each step, IOR and CBCT were taken. Based on the CBCT data, two observers jointly selected three axial slices at different levels of the buccal bone, as well as one transverse slice. Six dentists participated in the radiographic observations. First, all observers received the 10 intra-oral radiographs, and each observer was asked to rank the intra-oral radiographs on the extent of the buccal bone defect. Afterwards, the procedure was repeated with the CBCT scans based on a combination of axial and transverse information. For the second part of the study, each observer was asked to evaluate the axial and transverse CBCT slices on the presence or absence of a buccal bone defect. The percentage of buccal bone defect progression rankings that were within 1 of the true rank was 32% for IOR and 42% for CBCT. On average, kappa values increased by 0.384 for CBCT compared to intra-oral radiography. The overall sensitivity and specificity of CBCT in the diagnosis of the presence or absence of a buccal bone defect was 0.89 and 0.85, respectively. The average area under the curve (AUC) of the receiver operating curve (ROC) was 0.892 for all observers. When CBCT images are available for justified indications, other than bone level assessment, such 3D images are more accurate and thus preferred to 2D images to assess periodontal buccal bone. For other clinical applications, intra-oral radiography remains the standard method for radiographic evaluation.

Evaluation of diagnostic accuracy of CBCT and intraoral radiography for proximal caries detection in the presence of different dental restoration materials

PurposeThis study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital intraoral radiography for the detection of proximal caries adjacent to amalgam, e.max porcelain, and metal-ceramic restorations (MCRs).Materials and methodsParallel intraoral radiographs were obtained from 40 posterior teeth using PSP sensors. To obtain CBCT scans, the teeth were first radiographed alone, and were then positioned next to a tooth with an amalgam restoration, MCR, and e.max porcelain crown, and radiographed again. Two blinded observers scored radiographs using a four-point scale (0: absence of proximal caries, 1: enamel caries, 2: carious lesion extending to the outer half of dentin, 3: carious lesion extending to the inner half of dentin). Tooth sections were made, and the grade of caries was determined under a light microscope at x12 magnification. The sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CBCT and intraoral radiographs were then calculated.ResultsArtifact-free CBCT scans and intraoral radiographs had the highest diagnostic accuracy (0.826 and 0.657, respectively) while CBCT images of the teeth next to the amalgam restorations (0.526) had the lowest accuracy. The diagnostic accuracy of CBCT images of the teeth next to the porcelain crowns and MCRs was 0.613 and 0.601, respectively.ConclusionArtifact-free CBCT images had higher diagnostic accuracy than intraoral radiography for the detection of all grades of proximal caries. The diagnostic accuracy of CBCT images of teeth adjacent to amalgam, porcelain, and MCRs was lower compared to intraoral radiographs and artifact-free CBCT images.

The diagnostic accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography and two-dimensional imaging methods in the 3D localization and assessment of maxillary impacted canines compared to the gold standard in-vivo readings: A cross-sectional study

Although the widespread cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a diagnosing tool for impacted canines, the surgical exposure-based diagnostic accuracy of this 3D imaging modality has not been established yet. Therefore this study aimed to (1) compare the accuracy of CBCT- and 2D-based interpretations of impacted canine and its relationships with the neighbouring structures with the gold standard (GS) readings, (2) and calculate the diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values of the variables assessed using CBCT and 2D methods. Patients with unilateral impacted maxillary canines (IMCs) planned for surgical extraction between 2016-2018 were checked in-depth to include in this cross-sectional study. For each patient, 2D and 3D radiographic records were obtained and assessed by eight postgraduate orthodontic students. These assessments were compared with the GS readings based on surgical exposure and direct vision of the IMCs. To compare 2D- and CBCT-based assessments with the GS values, Cochran's Q tests, Friedman's tests, McNemar's, McNemar-Bowker's, and Wilcoxon tests were applied. A total of 17patients (6 males, 11 females; mean age: 20.52±3.98years) were randomly selected and included in this study. Significant differences were found between the CBCT-based assessments and the GS only concerning shape and bony coverage of the IMC (P=0.001 and P<0.001, respectively). On the contrary, there were significant differences between the 2D-based assessments and the GS regarding all the assessed variables except for the ankylosis and the proximity to the adjacent teeth (P=0.424, and P=0.080, respectively). CBCT-based assessments had remarkably higher values of diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity compared to 2D-based ones. The diagnostic accuracy of CBCT outperformed 2D radiography in localizing the IMC (labiopalatal, mesiodistal, and vertical location), detecting root apex development of the IMCs, and the resorption of the adjacent incisors. Although both 2D and 3D techniques showed the same ability in the diagnosis of IMCs ankylosis, the diagnostic accuracy of CBCT was superior. However, both techniques inaccurately determined the shape of the impacted canine and the bony coverage.

Diagnostic efficacy of cone-beam computed tomography for detection of vertical root fractures in endodontically treated teeth: a systematic review

BackgroundVertical root fractures (VRFs) sometimes occur in endodontically treated teeth. They have a difficult diagnosis and a dismal result. The objective of this review was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for detecting VRFs in teeth that had undergone endodontic treatment.MethodsLiterature was reviewed from Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Review, SCOPUS, and Embase databases between 2000 and 2022. The searched keywords included "endodontically treated teeth," "cone-beam computed tomography," "CBCT," "tooth fracture," "vertical root fracture," "VRF," "accuracy," "sensitivity," and "specificity." Only articles in the English language were included. The final analysis included 20 papers that satisfied the eligibility requirements.ResultsThe overall mean ± SD values (%) for the diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of CBCT for detection of VRFs in endodontically treated teeth in the presence of root-filling materials without an intracanal post were 71.50 ± 22.19 and 75.64 ± 19.41, respectively. The overall mean (SD) value (%) for the sensitivity of CBCT for the detection of VRFs in the presence of root-filling materials and intracanal posts was 72.76 (18.73), while the mean (SD) specificity was 75.44 (18.26). The accuracy of CBCT (mean ± SD) was 78.47 ± 17.19% and 74.02 ± 10.64%, respectively, for teeth without intracanal posts and those with posts.ConclusionsFurther clinical research is needed to validate the optimum efficiency of CBCT as a diagnostic technique for detecting VRFs in teeth that have had endodontic treatment, given the low sensitivity, significant heterogeneity of studies, and lack of in-vivo studies on the subject.

Morphometric Analysis of Mandible for Gender determination in adult patients: A Cone Beam Computed Tomography Study

Context: Gender determination is an important component of personal identification. Aims: Assessment of gender using mandible with Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT). Settings and Design: This cross-sectional prospective study was conducted on dental outpatients in the department of Oral Medicine and Radiology. Methods and Material: 148 dental outpatients were selected and subjected to CBCT. Mandibular landmarks such as gonial angle, alveolar ridge to mental foramen distance, mental foramen to the inferior border of mandible distance, mandibular canal to the most anterior tangent point of buccal and lingual mandibular plate distance, mandibular canal border to the lowest tangent point on the inferior border of the mandible, coronoid height, bigonial breadth, minimal ramus breadth and ramus length were assessed on CBCT scan. Statistical Analysis Used: Data was represented as mean and Standard Deviation (SD). Parameters were compared between males and females using Kruskal-Wallis and Student’s independent T-test. A value below 0.05 represented significant results. Results: All parameters except gonial were significantly higher in males as compared to females angle (P&lt; 0.05). The distance from the lowest point of the mandibular canal to the most posterior tangent point of the Mandibular Lingual Plate (MCLM) and bigonial breadth was higher in males than females but the difference was non-significant (P&gt;0.05). The accuracy of CBCT was found to be 89.7% in males and 88.5% in females. Conclusions: Gender determination by morphometric analysis of the mandible using cone beam computed tomography is an effective method and provides higher accuracy as compared to two-dimensional conventional radiographs.

Adaptive Visual Saliency Feature Enhancement of CBCT for Image-Guided Radiotherapy

Unlike the high imaging radiation dose of computed tomography (CT), cone-beam CT (CBCT) has smaller radiation dose and presents less harm to patients. Therefore, CBCT is often used for target delineation, dose planning, and postoperative evaluation in the image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) of various cancers. In the process of IGRT, CBCT images usually need to be collected multiple times in a radiotherapy stage for postoperative evaluation. The effectiveness of radiotherapy is measured by comparing and analyzing the registered CBCT and the source CT image obtained before radiotherapy. Hence, the registration of CBCT and CT is the most important step in IGRT. CBCT images usually have poor visual effects due to the small imaging dose used, which adversely affects the registration performance. In this paper, we propose a novel adaptive visual saliency feature enhancement method for CBCT in IGRT. Firstly, we denoised CBCT images using a structural similarity based low-rank approximation model (SSLRA) and then enhanced the denoised results with a visual saliency feature enhancement (VSFE)-based method. Experimental results show that the enhancement performance of the proposed method is superior to the comparison enhancement algorithms in visual objective comparison. In addition, the extended experiments prove that the proposed enhancement method can improve the registration accuracy of CBCT and CT images, demonstrating their application prospects in IGRT-based cancer treatment.

Assessment of the diagnostic accuracy of strip and furcal perforations in different sizes by cone beam computed tomography.

Root perforation is an adverse event that may accidentally occur during root canal treatment and can adversely affect the treatment plan and tooth prognosis. This study aimed to assess the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for detecting the strip and furcal perforations with different sizes. The mesiolingual canals of 155 extracted human mandibular first molars were instrumented and randomly divided into four experimental groups and one control group (n = 31). Furcal (in the pulp chamber floor) and strip perforations with 0.5, 1, 1.5, and 2mm in diameter were manually created. The teeth were randomly mounted in bovine ribs and scanned using CBCT. Two radiologists unaware of the study groups observed the images and reported the greatest perforation diameter. The inter-observer agreements were calculated. The diagnostic accuracy was compared for furcal and strip perforations with different sizes. The inter-observer agreement for detecting furcal and strip perforations with different sizes were good. The diagnostic accuracy was 100% for the absence of perforation in each group. CBCT can detect the absence of perforation with high accuracy. The diagnostic accuracy of CBCT in the presence of strip and furcal perforation with different sizes was not significant.

Cone-Beam Computed Tomography as a Prediction Tool for Osteoporosis in Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Literature Review

This literature review was conducted to analyze the capability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to accurately identify low bone mass density in women. A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Google Scholar, the Cochrane Library, and Science Direct was performed to identify relevant articles, and the Cochrane risk of bias criterion was used to determine the methodological quality of the included studies. All ten included studies assessed primary research on the capacity of CBCT to accurately diagnose insufficient bone mineral density. All relevant data were extracted, and the results were summarized narratively. The results indicated that the CBCT has good sensitivity and specificity and high accuracy in predicting osteoporosis. Four of the included studies measured qualitative values, while the others concentrated on quantitative values and found lower values in osteoporosis patients compared to those of osteopenic and healthy patients. All the studies compared CBCT grayscale values with dual energy X-ray absorptiometry scores, which strengthened our confidence in the accuracy of CBCT's diagnostic capability. CBCT is considered a feasible predictive tool for detecting patients who are at risk of osteoporosis, although further research is needed to confirm the evidence and enhance its common use among health care professionals.

Accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography in determining gingival thickness: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

To assess the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for determining gingival thickness. Searches were undertaken in PubMed/MEDLINE, EMBASE, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus, LIVIVO, and gray literature (Google Scholar and ProQuest) for studies considered eligible according to the following criteria: cross-sectional observational studies, which compared CBCT accuracy with that of transgingival probing when determining gingival thickness, in adult patients with good periodontal health. No language or time restrictions were applied in this systematic review. The risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. Six articles were included for qualitative synthesis, involving a pooled sample of 132 patients with a mean age of 29 years (18-51 years). Of these 6 studies, 5 were eligible for quantitative analysis. The meta-analysis showed no statistically significant difference between CBCT and transgingival probing measures of gingival tissue (mean difference of 0.10 (95% CI-0.17-0.38). No significant level of heterogeneity was detected (Tau2-P = 0.0662; I2 = 0%; H2-P = 1.000; Q-P = 1.134). According to the GRADE criterion, confidence in the cumulative evidence was considered low. CBCT is an accurate method for determining gingival tissue thickness, comparable to the reference standard (transgingival probing). CBCT could be considered for gingival thickness measurement when bone thickness is also needed, and thereby aid in the assessment of gingival biotype without the discomfort and anesthesia needed in transgingival probing. This protocol was registered at the PROSPERO database (International Prospective Register of Systematic Review) under registration number CRD42022326970. Available from: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022326970 .

Photoacoustic tomography versus cone-beam computed tomography versus micro-computed tomography: Accuracy of 3D reconstructions of human teeth.

In this in-vitro study, teeth were imaged using photoacoustic tomography (PAT), cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and micro-computed tomography (μ-CT). The study had aim: to identify the best wavelength for PAT images to determine the accuracy of the three imaging methods, and to determine whether PAT images of teeth can achieve acceptable reconstruction quality. Nineteen human mandibular single-rooted incisors were extracted from patients with trauma or periodontitis. To determine the best wavelength for acquiring photoacoustic images, all 19 teeth were scanned in vitro with PAT, using different laser wavelengths between 680 and 960 nm. The images were analyzed using image analysis software. To assess the accuracy of PAT and compare it with the accuracy of CBCT, each tooth was also scanned in vitro using CBCT and the reference standard technique of μ-CT. Subsequently, three different three-dimensional models, one for each imaging technique, were created for each tooth. Finally, the three different three-dimensional models acquired for the same tooth were matched and analyzed regarding volume and surface. The highest quality tooth images were achieved using the 680 nm wavelength, which showed the best contrast ratio. The full geometry of the dental root (μ-CT compared with PAT) could be visualized with relative standard deviations of 0.12 mm for the surface and -7.33 mm3 for the volume (n = 19). The full geometry of the dental root (μ-CT compared with CBCT) could be visualized with relative standard deviations of 0.06 mm for the surface and -14.56 mm3 for the volume (n = 19). The difference between the PAT-μ-CT group and CBCT-μ-CT group regarding the total average of the root surface area was not significant (p>0.06). Images, which were acquired using PAT at 680nm showed the best contrast ration, enabling the identification of dentin, cementum and the dental pulp. No significant differences were found between the PAT-μ-CT group and CBCT-μ-CT group regarding the total average of the RSA and the total volume. Thus, three-dimensional reconstructions based on in-vitro PAT are already of acceptable reconstruction quality.

Questionable accuracy of CBCT in determining bone density: A comparative CBCT-CT in vitro study.

The accuracy of the estimation of radiological bone density with the use of the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) grayscale is still questionable. Standardization and correlation with the gold standard computed tomography (CT) Hounsfield units (HU) is required prior to clinical application. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the reliability of the grayscale for the estimation of bone density, using samples with intact soft tissue in order to substantiate the clinical use of the scale. A total of 240 sites in 20 goat heads were scanned to obtain radiological bone mineral density via Hounsfield units in CT and the grayscale in CBCT. The anatomical architecture of soft tissues was preserved for all samples. Two observers obtained the data, which consisted of 3 variables (mean, minimum and maximum) for both scales. The statistical analysis of the data was conducted using Cronbach's alpha, Pearson's correlation coefficients, the independent samples t tests, and regression analysis. Differences in the means of the mean, minimum and maximum values between the 2 scales were statistically highly significant (p = 0.000). The correlation coefficients for the mean, minimum and maximum values of the 2 scales were 0.496, 0.037 and 0.396, respectively. Regression analysis revealed that the R2 values for the mean, minimum and maximum values were 29.79%, 21.05% and 19.45%, respectively. The positive but weak correlation between the 2 scales and the low predictive reliability of the grayscale reveals its questionable applicability for the estimation of density in comparison with the standard HU.

ACCURACY OF CBCT FOR MAPPING AGGRESSIVE LESION IN MAXILLARY SINUS: CASE REPORT

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been the most significant technological advance in terms of diagnostic imaging in the maxillofacial area. This change enabled moving from a 2D image to a multiplanar volumetric advancement of dental tissues and bone structures. The maxillary sinuses are anatomical structures that can be accurately observed. The aim of this study is to report a case of an aggressive hypodense lesion in the left maxillary sinus in an asymptomatic 64-year-old dark-skinned female patient, demonstrating the accuracy of CBCT to provide the full spectrum of the lesion such as location, dimensions, and precise involvement of adjacent structures compared to the panoramic radiographic image. The lesion measured 40 mm in the largest diameter and obliterated the entire maxillary sinus, causing destruction of all sinus cortices, maxillary tuberosity, and adjacent bony structures. The final diagnosis should be obtained by correlating the clinical-radiographic findings with the histopathologic examination.