Detection of Vertical Root Fractures of Different Thicknesses in Endodontically Enlarged Teeth by Cone Beam Computed Tomography versus Digital Radiography

• Published in: Journal of endodontics Vol. 36; no. 7; pp. 1245 - 1249
• Main Author: Ozer, Senem Yiğit
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 01.07.2010
• Subjects: Bicuspid - diagnostic imaging; Bicuspid - injuries; Cone-beam computed tomography; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography - methods; Dental Pulp Cavity - diagnostic imaging; Dental Pulp Cavity - injuries; Dentin - diagnostic imaging; Dentin - injuries; Dentistry; digital radiography; Endocrinology & Metabolism; Humans; Image Processing, Computer-Assisted - methods; Incisor - diagnostic imaging; Incisor - injuries; Mandible - diagnostic imaging; Molar - diagnostic imaging; Molar - injuries; Radiographic Image Enhancement - methods; Radiography, Dental, Digital - methods; thickness; Tooth Fractures - diagnostic imaging; Tooth Root - diagnostic imaging; Tooth Root - injuries; Tooth, Nonvital - diagnostic imaging; vertical root fracture; digital radiography; vertical root fracture; Cone-beam computed tomography; thickness
• ISSN: 0099-2399; 1878-3554
• DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2010.03.021

Abstract Introduction This study was performed to compare the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans and digital radiography (DR) for detecting simulated vertical root fractures (VRFs) with different thicknesses in extracted human teeth. Methods Eighty teeth were endodontically prepared and divided into 4 groups, 3 experimental and 1 control. The teeth in experimental groups were artificially fractured and fixed together with different thicknesses of 0.2 mm (0.2-mm VRF group), 0.4 mm (0.4-mm VRF group), and smaller than 0.2 mm (crack group). Teeth in control group were kept intact. Three observers evaluated the DR and CBCT images in terms of accuracy for VRF detection. Results No significant differences in detection rate were noted among the observers ( P > .5). The overall accuracy for detecting VRFs was significantly higher for CBCT scans compared with DR ( P < .001). CBCT scans were more accurate in detecting 0.2-mm VRFs (70%) and 0.4-mm VRFs (90%) as compared with DR (43.3% and 60%, respectively). Conclusions The results of this study showed that CBCT scans are effective for detecting VRFs of different thicknesses.