Stream Of Care Research Articles

Evaluation of the accuracy of digital and conventional implant-level impression techniques for maxillofacial prosthesis.

This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of digital impression making based on trueness and precision measurements of dental implants placed in maxillofacial lesions to produce Maxillofacial prosthesis substructures. Two intra-oral scanners (Trios 3 and CS 3700) and one Desktop scanner (open technology) were examined in this study. A Model of a patient with a lesion in the ear region was created as a reference. The reference model was scanned by each scanner 10 times. Standard Tessellation Language files were provided from each scanner and were examined in terms of Trueness and Precision aspects. In Distance 1, in the one-way analysis of variance test, there was a significant difference between the three scanners. The Trios group has less deviation than the Open Technology group (P = 0.015) compared with the CareStream (CS) group that showed more deviation (P < 0.000). There is a statistically significant difference in distance 2 among scanners. The Trios group showed more deviation as compared with the Open Technology group (P < 0.000). While this deviation is not statistically significant compared with the CS group (P = 0.0907). Open Technology Group compared with the CS group also has less deviation in distance 2, which has been statistically significant (P < 0.000). The preparation of a precise model of maxillofacial lesions is still difficult for some Intraoral scanners. There were significant statistical differences in Trueness and Precision among scanners. Used scanners can be applied as an alternative to conventional impression methods.

Feasibility of deep learning for dental caries classification in bitewing radiographs based on the ICCMS™ radiographic scoring system

To evaluate the potential of deep learning models for categorization of dental caries in bitewing radiographs based on the International Caries Classification and Management System (ICCMS™) radiographic scoring system (RSS). In total, 2758 annotated bitewing radiographs were randomly divided into 3 experiments to assess the ResNet-18, -50, -101, and -152. Experiment A tested 4-class ICCMS™-RSS training and validation using Carestream (CS) radiographs; experiment B tested training and validation using CS and VistaScan radiographs; experiment C tested 7-class ICCMS™-RSS training and validation using CS and VistaScan radiographs. The performance matrices and the areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves were analyzed to assess all procedures. In experiment A, ResNet-50 and ResNet-152 were equally accurate (71.11%) and approximately 78% sensitive. The latter presented the highest specificity (56.90%). In experiment B, ResNet-50 presented the highest sensitivity (79.51%) but ResNet-152 had the highest specificity (60.71%). In experiment C, all models markedly underperformed in distinguishing the 7-class ICCMS™-RSS with specificities of 16.46% to 22.41%. They had fewer classification errors in the 4-class classification (28.89%-35.56%) than in the 7-class classification (42.34%-53.06%). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves of all models were unanimously comparable. The ResNet models were able to classify dental caries according to the ICCMS™-RSS with average performances. The models underperformed in complicated classification tasks.

Incidental cone beam computed tomographic findings among Taibah University patients, KSA: A retrospective study.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the prevalence, type, and location of incidental findings by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. This study was performed to diagnose dental problems in the female population at Taibah University Dental Clinics (TUDC), KSA.MethodsA series of 150 consecutive CBCT scans were identified between January 2014 and February 2016. The record was retrieved from the Carestream (CS) R4 Clinical and Practice Management Software database of TUDC. We retrospectively assessed them for incidental findings and then summarized and categorized them into five anatomical regions: nasopharyngeal airway, temporomandibular joint (TMJ), paranasal sinuses, dental findings, and alveolar bone region. We then analysed the frequency and percentage of findings in each category.ResultsA total of 248 incidental findings were reported in 83 of 90 scans (2.76 findings/scan). The prevalence of all incidental findings was 92.2%. The most common incidental findings were located in the paranasal sinuses and alveolar area, each representing about a quarter (27.4%) of all of the findings. Other common findings were in the TMJ (22.9%), followed by those in the nasopharyngeal airway (10.9%), dental area (10.5%), and others (0.8%).ConclusionThis study confirms the high prevalence of incidental maxillofacial findings as shown by CBCT scans in a sample of female patients at TUDC. This emphasizes the need to thoroughly examine CBCT volumes for clinically significant findings inside and beyond the region of interest for the benefit of patients and the protection of practitioners.