The influence of voxel size and artifact reduction on the detection of vertical root fracture in endodontically treated teeth

A retrospective clinical study to compare the ability of cone-beam computed tomographic images and periapical radiographs to reveal cracked teeth, split teeth, and teeth with vertical root fractures

BACKGROUND

This retrospective clinical study aimed to compare the sensitivity of cone-beam computed tomographic (CBCT) images and periapical (PA) radiographs to reveal cracked teeth, split teeth, and teeth with vertical root fractures (VRFs).

METHODS

The authors included 98 patients (98 teeth) diagnosed with a longitudinal tooth fracture (LTF) (cracked tooth, split tooth, VRF) through direct visualization after extraction and with comprehensive clinical and radiographic records. They collected demographic, clinical, and radiographic data. The authors evaluated PA radiographs and CBCT images to identify fractures, fracture lines, and the different patterns of bone loss associated with these teeth. They used the McNemar test to compare PA radiographs and CBCT scans when assessing bone loss. They used the Fisher test to determine statistical relationships between fracture types and demographic, clinical, and radiologic traits. They used an analysis of variance test to compare patient age with fracture types.

RESULTS

CBCT images were significantly more effective (P < .05) in detecting bone loss patterns associated with LTFs than with PA radiographs, with 71% of cases detected via CBCT images compared with 42% via radiographs. Mean age was significantly greater (P < .05) in patients with teeth with VRFs than in patients with split teeth. A significant relationship was observed between the type of fracture and the following variables: root canal treatment (split, VRF, P = .002), deep probing depth (≥ 5 mm) (VRF, P = .026), and having more than 8 teeth extracted from the mouth (VRF, P = .032). Overall, there was a significant difference (P < .001) between the visualization of fracture lines (45% on PA radiographs, 65% on CBCT images).

CONCLUSIONS

CBCT scans provided more information on LTFs than PA radiographs, particularly in the identification of periradicular bone changes.

PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS

CBCT imaging can assist in making the clinical diagnosis of LTFs through observation of bone loss patterns, providing more information than PA radiographs.

Cone-beam computed tomography in endodontics: from the specific technical considerations of acquisition parameters and interpretation to advanced clinical applications

The implementation of imaging methods that enable sensitive and specific observation of anatomical structures has been a constant in the evolution of endodontic therapy. Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) enables 3-dimensional (3D) spatial anatomical navigation in the 3 volumetric planes (sagittal, coronal and axial) which translates into great accuracy for the identification of endodontic pathologies/conditions. CBCT interpretation consists of 2 main components: (i) the generation of specific tasks of the image and (ii) the subsequent interpretation report. A systematic and reproducible method to review CBCT scans can improve the accuracy of the interpretation process, translating into greater precision in terms of diagnosis and planning of endodontic clinical procedures. MEDLINE (PubMed), Web of Science, Google Scholar, Embase and Scopus were searched from inception to March 2023. This narrative review addresses the theoretical concepts, elements of interpretation and applications of the CBCT scan in endodontics. In addition, the contents and rationale for reporting 3D endodontic imaging are discussed.

Quantitative evaluation of artifact expression in conebeam computed tomography of mesoporous calcium silicate nanoparticles as a promising root canal sealer

OBJECTIVES

We aimed to quantitatively compare the area and volume of artifacts in cone beam computed tomography produced by mesoporous calcium silicate nanoparticles (MCSNs), AH Plus sealer, and iRoot SP sealer when used as root canal sealers.

METHODS

We prepared 40 single-rooted mandibular premolars and divided them into an MCSN sealer group, an AH Plus sealer group, an iRoot SP sealer group, and a no-sealer (control) group. We filled the canals with gutta-percha using the single-cone method and subjected them to conebeam computed tomography before and after the placement of root fillings using the same exposure parameters. We evaluated the images to quantify the areas of hyperdense and hypodense artifacts and non-affected teeth and reconstructed 3-dimensional image models of the materials to study volume distortion artifacts.

RESULTS

The MCSN sealer group produced a significantly smaller hyperdense and volume distortion artifacts than the AH Plus and iRoot SP groups (P < .01), but the area and volume of hypodense artifacts did not differ significantly among the groups (P > .05).

CONCLUSIONS

When used as a root canal sealer, MCSNs generate a significantly smaller area and volume of hyperdense artifacts than AH Plus and iRoot SP sealers. By significantly reducing the generation of high-density artifacts, MCSNs may facilitate the evaluation of root canal filling quality and the diagnosis of root canal abnormalities.

Contemporary Role and Applications of Artificial Intelligence in Dentistry

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies play a significant role and significantly impact various sectors, including healthcare, engineering, sciences, and smart cities. AI has the potential to improve the quality of patient care and treatment outcomes while minimizing the risk of human error. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the dental industry, just like it is revolutionizing other sectors. It is used in dentistry to diagnose dental diseases and provide treatment recommendations. Dental professionals are increasingly relying on AI technology to assist in diagnosis, clinical decision-making, treatment planning, and prognosis prediction across ten dental specialties. One of the most significant advantages of AI in dentistry is its ability to analyze vast amounts of data quickly and accurately, providing dental professionals with valuable insights to enhance their decision-making processes. The purpose of this paper is to identify the advancement of artificial intelligence algorithms that have been frequently used in dentistry and assess how well they perform in terms of diagnosis, clinical decision-making, treatment, and prognosis prediction in ten dental specialties; dental public health, endodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, oral medicine and pathology, oral & maxillofacial radiology, orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics, pediatric dentistry, periodontics, prosthodontics, and digital dentistry in general. We will also show the pros and cons of using AI in all dental specialties in different ways. Finally, we will present the limitations of using AI in dentistry, which made it incapable of replacing dental personnel, and dentists, who should consider AI a complimentary benefit and not a threat.

Effect of different intracanal posts and exposure parameters on detection of vertical root fractures by cone-beam computed tomography

This study evaluated the effect of different amperage values and voxel sizes of two CBCT scanners on VRF detection in the presence of different intracanal posts. After post-space preparation, VRFs were induced in half of the samples of 20 maxillary premolars. Five different intracanal posts were passively placed in each root canal. Samples were scanned using CS 9300 and Cranex3D with two different voxel sizes and amperage setting in each unit. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were compared using the Mann-Whitney and Kruskal-Wallis tests (α = 0.05). Changes in amperage and voxel size did not affect the detection of VRFs (p ⟩ 0.05). The VRF detection accuracy was the highest in fibreglass and the lowest in nickel-chromium group. Changes in amperage and voxel size within assessed values do not seem to influence the detection of VRF whereas different intracanal post-materials have significant effect on VRF detection.

Influence of voxel size and filter type on detecting vertical root fracture using cone-beam computed tomography

Vertical root fractures (VRFs) can start at any level of the root and progress longitudinally to the coronal attachment. This study aimed to investigate the effects of different exposure parameters used when obtaining CBCT scans in detecting simulated VRFs. Hence, 80 intact human mandibular single-rooted pre-molar teeth without root fractures were included in the study. No statistically significant difference was found between the filters in terms of VRF detection in the group with the roots with only root canal filling (Groups 1 and 5); however, 100 voxels were found to be more successful in terms of VRF detection than other voxel sizes. Results of this study suggest that using lower voxel sizes leads to an accurate diagnosis of vertical root fracture, in addition, our results revealed that using AR filters did not improve the diagnostic accuracy in detecting VRFs.

Quantitative assessment of image artifacts from zygoma implants on CBCT scans using different exposure parameters

This study was aimed at quantifying artifacts from zygoma implants in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images using different exposure parameters. Two cadaver heads, one with two zygoma implants on each side and the other for control, were scanned using 18 different exposure parameters. Quantitative analysis was performed to evaluate the hypodense and hyperdense artifact percentages calculated as the percentage of the area. Hyperdense artifacts and hypodense artifacts were detected, followed by the calculation of the hyperdense and hypodense artifact percentages in the image. In the qualitative analysis of the artifacts, the scores used were as follows: absence (0), moderate presence (1), or high presence (2) for hypodense halos, thin hypodense lines, and hyperdense lines. Artifact analysis was performed qualitatively and quantitatively using the post-hoc Tukey and Two-way ANOVA tests. As a result, in the qualitative analyses, zygoma implants showed a significant difference compared to the control group with regard to hyperdense and hypodense artifacts (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference between the means according to the FOV size arithmetic averages (p < 0.05). In terms of voxel size, the difference was found to be significant, where 400 microns showed the highest hypodense artifact while 200 microns showed the lowest hypodense artifact. In conclusion, hypodense and hyperdense artifacts were significantly higher in cadavers with zygoma implants than in controls. As FOV and voxel size increase, more hypodense artifacts are produced by zygoma implants so smaller FOV and voxel sizes should be used to prevent poor image quality of adjacent teeth.

Could Low-dose Cone-beam CT be Used for Endodontic Intraoperative Diagnosis?

INTRODUCTION

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows three-dimensional evaluation and has high diagnostic accuracy of endodontic conditions. Considering that the most indicated protocol for endodontics should have smaller field-of-view and higher spatial resolution, a higher radiation dose may be associated. Thus, this study evaluated the accuracy of an optimized CBCT protocol for the detection of intraoperative endodontic complications.

METHODS

An image phantom was custom-made with a human mandible covered with Mix-D and forty mandibular first molars. The teeth were subdivided into 4 groups of endodontic complications which were simulated. All teeth were individually inserted into the left second molar socket of the phantom and CBCT images were acquired with OP 300 unit adjusted to a field-of-view of 6 × 4 cm, 90kVp, and 2 dose protocols: low and high. Furthermore, a titanium implant, a tooth with endodontic treatment, and a cobalt-chromium post were inserted into the empty sockets adjacent to the teeth of interest and additional images were acquired. Four endodontists evaluated the images and indicated the presence of endodontic complications on a 5-point scale. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve were obtained. The different groups were compared by ANOVA and Tukey tests (α = 0.05).

RESULTS

In most conditions, irrespective of the presence of metallic materials, the values of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve did not differ significantly (P > .05) between the dose protocols.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimized CBCT protocols should be considered for the detection of intraoperative endodontic Diagnostic complications.

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

BACKGROUND

Vertical 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.

METHODS

Literature 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.

RESULTS

The 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.

CONCLUSIONS

Further 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.

Influence of the technical parameters of CBCT image acquisition on vertical root fracture diagnosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

To evaluate the influence of image acquisition parameters (voxel, FOV, kVp, mA) on the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting vertical root fracture (VRF).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Searches were performed in 6 main databases and the gray literature, without restrictions of language or date. Observational clinical studies (OCS) and in vitro-extracted teeth (IV) studies were considered eligible for inclusion when investigating the accuracy (sensitivity, specificity) of CBCT in detecting VRF in human teeth. The risk of bias was assessed using QUADAS-2, and a meta-analysis was performed using Review Manager v5.4 software and Jamovi software v1.6.

RESULTS

A total of 60 out of 132 articles was included after fulfilling the eligibility criteria. Of these, 54 were IV studies while 6 were OCS. In the IV studies, it was seen that smaller FOV sizes tended to present higher accuracy values. The meta-analysis of the 6 OCS showed that the overall sensitivity and specificity values for 0.08 mm and 0.1 mm voxels were greater (0.84 and 0.79, respectively) than the sensitivity and specificity values for 0.125 mm and 0.2 mm voxels (0.70 and 0.55, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite the uncertain risk of bias found for the IV and OCS studies, smaller voxel and FOV sizes seem to provide more accurate VRF detection values when using CBCT.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

This information is crucial for supporting the clinician when prescribing CBCT in cases of a clinical suspicion of VRF, and contributes to the personalization of the CBCT prescription, thereby ensuring greater accuracy in the VRF diagnosis. Registration This protocol was registered at the PROSPERO database (International Prospective Register of Systematic Review) under registration number CRD42020210118.

Digital file format does not influence the radiographic diagnosis of vertical root fracture

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the influence of the file format of digital periapical radiographs on the diagnosis of vertical root fracture (VRF).

STUDY DESIGN

Periapical radiographic images of 34 single-rooted teeth-19 with VRF, and 15 without VRF were acquired using two digital systems-Digora Toto, and Digora Optime, and exported into four different file formats-TIFF, BMP, PNG, and JPEG, totaling 272 radiographs. The radiographs were assessed by five examiners for the detection of VRF, using a 5-point scale (1-definitely absent; 2-probably absent; 3-uncertain; 4-probably present; 5-definitely present). Diagnostic values of area under the ROC curve, specificity, and sensitivity for the diagnosis of VRF were calculated. The results were compared by two-way Analysis of Variance with post hoc Tukey's test. The intra- and inter-examiner agreements were measured by the Kappa test. The significance level was set at 5% for all analyses.

RESULTS

The values of intra-examiner agreement varied from moderate (0.56) to almost perfect (0.81), while the values of inter-examiner agreement varied from fair (0.29) to moderate (0.60). The image file format did not influence the diagnostic values for VRF for any of the radiographic systems tested (p > 0.05). Digora Toto had significantly greater values of area under the ROC curve than Digora Optime for all file formats (p = 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The image file format of periapical radiographs does not influence the diagnosis of VRF, regardless of the digital radiography system.