Computer-aided system for morphometric mandibular index computation. (Using dental panoramic radiographs)

• Published in: Medicina oral, patología oral y cirugía bucal Vol. 17; no. 4; pp. e624 - e632
• Main Authors: López López, José, 1958, Álvarez López, José-Manuel, Jané Salas, Enric, Estrugo-Devesa, Albert, Ayuso Montero, Raúl, Velasco Ortega, Eugenio, Segura Egea, Juan José
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Spain Medicina Oral SL 01.07.2012; Medicina Oral S.L
• Subjects: Dental radiology; Dentistry; Gerodontology; Humans; Jaws; Mandible - diagnostic imaging; Maxil·lars; Osteoporosi; Osteoporosis; Posicions radiogràfiques; Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; Radiographic positioning; Radiography, Panoramic; Radiologia dental
• ISSN: 1698-6946; 1698-4447; 1698-6946
• DOI: 10.4317/medoral.17637

We propose and validate a computer-aided system to measure three different mandibular indexes: cortical width, panoramic mandibular index and, mandibular alveolar bone resorption index. Repeatability and reproducibility of the measurements are analyzed and compared to the manual estimation of the same indexes. The proposed computerized system exhibits superior repeatability and reproducibility rates compared to standard manual methods. Moreover, the time required to perform the measurements using the proposed method is negligible compared to perform the measurements manually. We have proposed a very user friendly computerized method to measure three different morphometric mandibular indexes. From the results we can conclude that the system provides a practical manner to perform these measurements. It does not require an expert examiner and does not take more than 16 seconds per analysis. Thus, it may be suitable to diagnose osteoporosis using dental panoramic radiographs.