Influence of file compression on radiographic diagnosis of periodontal bone loss on smartphones.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the influence of imaging compression on radiographic diagnosis of periodontal bone loss on smartphones. METHODS: 45 digital periapical radiographs with diverse periodontal bone loss patterns were selected. All radiographs were performed with a CMOS-type sensor and were exported from the acquisition software with two compressions: JPEG with a 10% compression rate and JPEG with a 90% compression rate. Images were shared using the WhatsApp application and three examiners evaluated all radiographs on the smartphone. The examiners' diagnostic agreement was evaluated using the Kappa index. The McNemar and Cochran's Q statistical tests were used to compare the impact of the image compression, examiner, and type of periodontal bone defect on the diagnosis. Statistical analysis was performed using the SPSS software. RESULTS: Kappa values were greater than 0.7 for all examiners and no statistically significant difference for the periodontal diagnosis, regardless of the image compression, the examiner background, and the type of periodontal bone defect. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The use of smartphones to analyze and share images has become very common in dentistry. This study shows that images can be shared and analyzed on smartphones without compromising periodontal diagnosis, regardless of their spatial resolution.

Efficacy of a radiographic film holder adapter in generating radiographs of dental implants with improved geometric accuracy and sharpness.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Some radiographic film holders produce radiographs with geometric distortion that may interfere with diagnosis. However, whether the distortion can be corrected by adjusting the design of the radiographic film holder is unclear. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to develop an adapter for a radiographic film holder model aiming to generate radiographs with greater sharpness and a more accurate geometric representation of dental implants. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The 2-piece adapter was designed using the SketchUp software program and was 3-dimensionally (3D) printed. Implants with internal conical connections were installed in 19 maxillary prototypes in the central incisor region. Five dentists obtained 285 digital periapical radiographs with 3 different radiographic film holders: standard Cone Indicator, Rinn XCP, and adapted Cone Indicator. They then evaluated the radiographic sharpness of the implants threads and their dimensions using the ImageJ software program. The data were analyzed using the Friedman test with the Durbin-Conover post hoc test and MANOVA with the Tukey post hoc test (α=.05). RESULTS: On the mesial surface of the implants, the threads were sharper for the adapted than for the standard Cone Indicator radiographic film holder (P<.05). The adapted Cone Indicator showed a smaller difference between the radiographic and actual implant diameters compared with the Rinn XCP and standard Cone Indicator radiographic film holders (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The developed adapter provided radiographs of dental implants with improved sharpness and geometric accuracy.

Identification and classification of pulp calcifications in posterior teeth according to dental condition using digital panoramic radiography and cone beam CT.

OBJECTIVE: To compare digital panoramic radiography (DPR) and cone beam CT (CBCT) in the detection and classification of pulp calcifications in posterior teeth in relation to tooth condition and its location. METHODS: Two hundred and fifty patients with simultaneous DPR and CBCT scans were selected from a dental image bank. For each posterior tooth, its condition was registered (healthy, restored, or decayed). The presence of calcifications was assessed and classified according to location (coronal or radicular) and type (total obliteration, partial obliteration, narrowing, and no calcification). Chi-square and McNemar tests were used to compare DPR and CBCT results, with a significance level of 5%. DPR diagnostic values were calculated using CBCT as reference. RESULTS: Decayed and restored teeth showed a significantly (P < .001) higher prevalence of pulp calcifications than healthy teeth in both imaging exams. There was a significant discrepancy between the imaging modalities in the identification of calcifications (P < .001), especially for radicular calcifications of maxillary teeth (DPR = 55.2%; CBCT = 30.9%). In the case of coronal calcifications, there was a greater discrepancy between CBCT and DPR in the mandibular teeth (10.7%) than in the maxillary teeth (7.7%). Overall, DPR presents higher sensitivity (0.855) than specificity (0.483) for pulp calcifications detection. CONCLUSION: DPR considerably overestimates pulp calcifications in posterior teeth, as compared to CBCT. A higher prevalence of pulp calcifications is related to decayed and restored teeth.

Mandibular morphology in schizophrenia patients compared with non-psychiatric controls using digital panoramic radiography: a retrospective cross-sectional study from Istanbul, Türkiye.

BACKGROUND: Schizophrenia is a chronic severe mental disorder characterized by impairment in cognition, emotion, perception, and other aspects of behavior. In light of the association of craniofacial dysmorphology with schizophrenia, mandibular morphology may provide clues about the role of neurodevelopment in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia. This retrospective cross-sectional study aimed to compare the mandibular morphology of patients with schizophrenia with controls using digital panoramic radiography (DPR). METHODS: 302 recorded diagnostic panoramic images obtained from 143 schizophrenia patients (98 males, 45 females), and 159 controls (73 males, 86 females), aged 18-45 years, were evaluated. Seven mandibular measurements consisting of ramus height, condylar height, gonial angle, antegonial angle, antegonial notch depth, ramal notch depth and bigonial width were measured from the DPRs in a double-blinded manner. Bivariate comparisons were carried out using the Independent t-test and Mann-Whitney U test. Logistic regression analysis was used for multivariate comparisons. RESULTS: Linear measurements were higher while angular measurements were lower in schizophrenia patients. Regression analyses indicated that female patients had greater ramus height (OR = 1.243; P = 0.001), condylar height (OR = 1.463; P = 0.048) and bigonial width (OR = 1.082; P < 0.001); male patients had greater ramus heights (OR = 1.216; P = 0.001) and bigonial width (OR = 1.076; P < 0.001) as well as lower antegonial angle (OR = 0.908; P = 0.012) compared to their respective controls. CONCLUSION: Quantitative differences in mandibular morphology in schizophrenia patients versus controls deserve attention and corroborate with the concept of abnormal neurodevelopment in schizophrenia.

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

PURPOSE: This 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 METHODS: Parallel 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. RESULTS: Artifact-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. CONCLUSION: Artifact-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.

Does endodontics influence radiological detection of external root resorption? an in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: External root resorption (ERR) has a multifactorial etiology and is difficult to diagnose, which means that is continues to be of research interest. This work mainly aims to determine whether external root resorption can be differentially detected in root-filled versus non-endodontically treated teeth using digital periapical radiography (DPR) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). METHODS: The Checklist for Reporting In-vitro Studies (CRIS) guidelines were followed throughout this study. This experiment highlights the preparation and generation of standardized synthetic teeth measured on three-dimensional records converted into Digital Imaging and Communication on Medicine (DICOM) file format. Twelve replicate maxillary incisors were randomized into two groups: (G1) six non-endodontically treated, and (G2) six endodontically treated teeth. In both groups, actual tooth lengths of all specimens were measured and compared with measurements obtained using DPR and CBCT. Simulated ERR lesions [0.12, 0.18, 0.20 mm × 0.5 mm depth in the mesial, distal and palatal apical regions] were created progressively, radiographic images were recorded, and 24 DPRs and 96 CBCTs were obtained in total. Eight blinded, previously calibrated researchers made a total of 1920 measurements (using Horos Software). Data were analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk, ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank post-hoc tests [Bonferroni correction in multiple comparison tests (p < 0.05)]. RESULTS: ICC values for intra- and inter-examiner agreement were appropriate. DPR overestimated ERR detection compared to the actual and CBCT measurements [Mean diff = 0.765 and 0.768, respectively]. CBCT diagnosis of ERR lesions in specimens without root canal treatment was significantly more accurate than DPR diagnoses on both non-endodontically and endodontically-treated specimens [p = 0.044; p = 0.037, respectively]. There was an 18.5% reduction in sensitivity in all DPR diagnoses made on endodontic teeth versus those made on non-endodontically treated teeth. For the smallest ERR lesions, this sensitivity was even more marked, with 27.8 and 25% less sensitivity, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study highlight that both CBCT and DPR are good diagnostic methods for ERR. Nevertheless, root canal filling material influences diagnostic capability in ERR. The clinical significance was that the presence of intracanal material reduces the detection and diagnosis of ERR by DPR in teeth with root canal treatment.

Evaluation of the different exposure parameters for the accurate diagnosis of peri-implantitis severity in digital panoramic radiography.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the accuracy of the diagnosis of peri-implant bone defects' severities in digital panoramic radiographs obtained at different tube voltage and/or tube current settings. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Two different sizes of peri-implant bone defects (type 1 and type 2) were prepared after the implants were inserted into 29 bovine rib blocks. Digital panoramic radiographs were obtained at eight different tube voltage and/or tube current settings for all rib blocks. Implant images were cropped separately. The average intensity value (AIV) of cropped images were analyzed using Adobe Photoshop CC software. The Kruskal-Wallis H test was used to compare AIVs. All cropped images were evaluated using a five-point Likert scale for the likelihood of a bone defect being absent or present. The weighted kappa values were calculated to compare observer agreement and ROC analysis was performed to determine the appropriate exposure parameters. RESULTS: The lowest AIV was obtained at 72 kV/6.3 mA (92.162±16.016), and the highest AIV was obtained at 60 kV/3.2 mA (179.050±13.823). The Kruskal-Wallis H test showed significant differences in the AIVs according to the exposure parameters (p<0.001). The kappa coefficient for the inter-observer agreement was excellent (0.864, p<0.001). The AUC values for type 1 defects ranged from 0.778 and 0.860; for type 2 defects ranged from 0.920 and 0.967. The AUC value of type 1 defects was slightly better in panoramic images obtained with high kV and low mA levels (72 kV/3.2 mA), compared to others. CONCLUSIONS: In daily clinical routine, peri-implant bone defects might be evaluated by panoramic radiographs obtained with all kV and mA values tested. However, to avoid misdiagnosing and for better accuracy, panoramic radiographs obtained with high kV and low mA levels suitable for patients should be used, especially in the detection of small or initial bone defects.

Automatic exposure compensation in intraoral digital radiography: effect on the gray values of dental tissues.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to investigate the effect of automatic exposure compensation (AEC) of intraoral radiographic systems on the gray values of dental tissues in images acquired with or without high-density material in the exposed region using different exposure times and kilovoltages. The influence of the distance of the high-density material was also investigated. METHODS: Radiographs from the molar region of two mandibles were obtained using the RVG 6100 and the Express systems, operating at 60 and 70 kV and 0.06, 0.10, and 0.16 s. Subsequently, a titanium implant was inserted in the premolar's socket and other images were acquired. Using the ImageJ software, two regions of interest were determined on the enamel, coronary dentine, root dentine, and pulp of the first and second molars to obtain their gray values. RESULTS: In the RVG 6100, the implant did not affect the gray values (p > 0.05); the increase in kV decreased it in all tissues (p < 0.05), and the exposure time affected only the root dentine and pulp. In the Express, only enamel and coronary dentine values changed (p < 0.05), decreasing with the implant presence and/or with the increase in exposure factors. The distance of the implant did not affect the results (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: AEC's performance varies between the radiographic systems. Its effect on the gray values depends not only on the presence or absence of high-density material but also on the kV and exposure time used.

The impact of digital filters on the diagnosis of simulated root resorptions in digital radiographic systems.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the influence of digital filters of intraoral radiographic systems on the diagnosis of simulated internal and external root resorptions and image quality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Internal root resorption (IRR) and external root resorption (ERR) were simulated in 34 teeth. For image acquisition, two radiographic systems were used: Digora Toto and VistaScan. All filters available in these systems were applied. Three observers scored the detection of root resorptions in a 5-point scale. The noise and the contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) were calculated. The area under ROC curve, sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy were obtained. One-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc tests compared the diagnostic values, noise, and CNR between the filters (α = 0.05). RESULTS: For ERR, there were no significant differences in diagnostic values between the filters tested for both systems. For IRR, Original and Noise Reduction filters presented higher sensitivity than the Sharpen2 filter for images from Digora Toto, with no differences between the other groups. For VistaScan, there were no significant differences of diagnostic values between the groups studied. Noise values differed among the filters of both systems. The CNR of the filters differed only for the bone region for Digora Toto, while for VistaScan, both tooth and bone regions differed. CONCLUSIONS: Despite promoting changes in pixel intensities and affecting the noise level of the radiographic images, the digital filters of Digora Toto and VistaScan systems do not affect the diagnosis of internal or external root resorptions. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Digital filters are common tools in digital radiographic systems and may be used by the professional without impairment in root resorptions diagnosis.

How Does Ambient Light Affect the Image Quality of Phosphor Plate Digital Radiography? A Quantitative Analysis Using Contemporary Digital Radiographic Systems.

The aim of this study is to quantitatively evaluate the influence of the duration of ambient light exposure on the image quality of digital radiographs obtained with contemporary phosphor plate (PSP)-based systems. Radiographs of an aluminum step-wedge were obtained using VistaScan and Express systems at five X-ray exposure times: 0.10, 0.20, 0.32, 0.40, and 0.50 s; the resulting dose-area products were, respectively, 21.93, 43.87, 70.19, 87.75, and 109.6 mGycm2. Before PSP read-out, half of the sensitive surface of the PSP plates was exposed to ambient light for 5, 10, 30, 60, and 90 s. The effect of light exposure on brightness, contrast, contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR), signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), and image saturation was compared using ANOVA with the Tukey test (α = 0.05). Ambient light exposure increased brightness and contrast and reduced CNR and SNR in PSP-based radiographs of contemporary digital systems. At the longest X-ray exposure times, ambient light exposure reduced the dark saturation (mean gray values ≤ 1) observed in Express. In conclusion, the negative effects of ambient light observed on the image quality of PSP-based radiographs are directly proportional to the duration of exposure. Clinicians should be aware of such harmful effects when handling and scanning PSP plates in bright environments.

Diagnostic Accuracy of Caries and Periapical Lesions on a Monitor with and without DICOM-GSDF Calibration Under Different Ambient Light Conditions.

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of caries and periapical lesions on a monitor with and without DICOM part 14: grayscale standard display function (DICOM-GSDF) calibration under different ambient light conditions. Forty digital bitewing radiographs were selected, with or without radiographic images of carious lesions and forty digital periapical radiographs with or without periapical lesions were selected from archives of the Radiology Department at the University Hospital of the Federal University of Sergipe. The gold standard radiographic images were determined through consensus between two radiologists with more than 15 and 30 years of experience. The selected radiographs were evaluated on a LG LED monitor with and without DICOM-GSDF calibration under different ambient light conditions: Lx1 (low ambient lighting), Lx2 (moderate ambient lighting) and Lx3 (high ambient lighting). Kappa (Kw) values determined that evaluator 1 showed almost perfect agreement for all devices, while evaluator 2 presented a substantial agreement for all devices. Monitors with and without DICOM-GSDF calibration have similar accuracy values. The three ambient light conditions analyzed have similar accuracy and can be used for caries lesions diagnosis (p > 0.05); however, the best diagnostic accuracy of periapical lesions was found in Lx 2. The displays with and without DICOM-GSDF calibration studied in this research have similar accuracy and can be used to evaluate digital radiographs without changing the diagnostic capacity. The different ambient lighting conditions did not influence the evaluation of caries lesions. The best diagnostic accuracy of periapical lesions was found in moderate ambient lighting.

Comparison between periapical radiography and cone beam computed tomography for the diagnosis of anterior maxillary trauma in children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Under-estimating the damage caused by trauma to the dental structures may delay treatment. Timely and accurate diagnosis remains challenging in clinical practice. Radiography is an important modality for the diagnosis of traumatic injuries. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of periapical radiography and cone beam computed tomography for the diagnosis of trauma to the anterior maxillary dentoalveolar region in children and adolescents. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Images of patients who underwent both periapical radiography and cone beam computed tomography simultaneously because of trauma to the anterior maxillary region between January 2016 and January 2020 were analyzed retrospectively. Pairwise comparison between the receiver operating characteristic curves was performed to statistically compare the two methods for the diagnosis of crown fractures, root fractures, alveolar bone fractures and luxations, tooth resorption, and periapical radiolucencies. RESULTS: A total of 190 patients met the inclusion criteria. There were 120 (63.2%) males and 70 (36.8%) females, with a mean age of 11.1 years (range: 6-17 years). A crown fracture was observed in 144 teeth, while a root fracture was observed in 71 teeth. Alveolar fracture and luxation were observed in 44 incisors. During follow-up, tooth resorption and periapical radiolucencies were observed in 25 and 33 teeth, respectively. Pairwise receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that cone beam computed tomography was significantly superior to periapical radiography for the diagnosis of root fractures, alveolar fractures and luxations, and tooth resorption (p < .05). However, no significant differences were found for the diagnosis of crown fractures and periapical radiolucencies (p > .05). CONCLUSIONS: Cone beam computed tomography in the low-dose mode was better for diagnosing root and bone fractures and resorption, but no different to periapical radiographs for crown fractures and periapical radiolucencies in pediatric patients.

Impact of case complexity on paediatric dentists' ability to radiographically diagnose traumatic dental injuries.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Being able to correctly interpret radiographs after a traumatic dental injury is an essential skill for providing appropriate and timely treatment. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of case complexity on paediatric dentists' performance when radiographically diagnosing traumatic dental injuries (TDI) and to investigate a possible added value of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) when compared with digital intra-oral radiography (2D vs 3D). MATERIALS AND METHODS: A test panel of paediatric dentists was instructed to detect, identify and interpret radiographic findings using either 2D or 3D images. Intra-oral radiographs and CBCT images of 20 trauma cases were presented in random order, and the findings were recorded using structured scoring sheets. Case complexity was determined by two experienced benchmark scorers. Results were analysed using generalized linear mixed modelling. RESULTS: In general, performance for detection, identification and interpretation of findings was low, both with 2D and 3D images, with significantly lower values for difficult cases (p < 0.05). For easy as well as for difficult cases, 3D imaging resulted in a significantly better performance for detection and identification of findings (P < 0.001). This was not the case for correct interpretation, where significantly poorer performance was seen when using 3D images for difficult cases (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that case complexity of traumatic dental injuries influences diagnostic performance. The use of CBCT enhanced detection and identification of findings but when case complexity increased, 3D imaging adversely affected correct interpretation.

Evaluation of associations between condylar morphology, ramus height, and mandibular plane angle in various vertical skeletal patterns: a digital radiographic study.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate condylar morphology, ramus height, and asymmetry indexes in patients with different vertical skeletal patterns and to determine the association between condylar and ramal measurements with the mandibular plane angle. METHODS: Dental panoramic radiographs of 60 patients with different skeletal patterns were evaluated. According to the cranial base (Sella-Nasion)-mandibular plane (SN-MP) angle, the patients were divided into three groups: normal angle (NA), low angle (LA), and high angle (HA). The condylar area, condylar perimeter, condylar heights, and ramus height were measured, and the asymmetry index value of each measurement was calculated. A one-way analysis of variance as well as a post hoc Tukey and Kruskall-Wallis tests were used to determine intergroup differences. Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to determine the relationship between all measurements and SN-MP. RESULTS: The intergroup comparison of condylar area, condylar perimeter, condylar heights, and ramus height measurements showed that the patients in the LA group have statistically significantly greater values compared to those in the HA group. A statistically significant difference was detected between the NA and LA groups only in the condylar area measurements. There was no statistical difference only in the ramus height measurements between the NA and HA groups. Asymmetry index values of the groups were similar. The negative correlations were found between all measurements and the SN-MP angle. CONCLUSION: HA individuals have lower ramus heights and smaller condylar morphologies than NA and LA individuals. In addition, as the SN-MP angle increases, the condyle dimensions and ramus height decrease, and this is a clinically important finding.

Visual inspection of root patterns and radiographic estimation of its canal configurations by confirmation using sectioning method. An ex vivo study on maxillary first premolar teeth.

BACKGROUND: A thorough understanding of the original root and canal anatomy is a critical technical prerequisite for performing cleaning and shaping treatments. Therefore, this research aimed to characterize maxillary first premolar teeth' root morphology and canal architecture. METHODS: One hundred forty-two extracted human adult maxillary first premolar teeth have been retrieved. The extracted teeth were thoroughly cleaned and irrigated to eliminate any remaining debris or blood. They were then preserved in formalin solution until they were eligible for screening. To begin, a visual examination was employed to ascertain the number of roots and their geometry in each sample. Then, utilizing digital radiography in two plains, mesiodistal and distomesial, to further determine those parameters. Finally, a sectioning technique had been used to have the samples cut mesiodistally into slices to validate the internal root canal architecture and identify the number of root canals and their varieties in accordance with Vertucci's categorization system. The canal layout, the pulp chamber, and the root canals were all highlighted (marked) using a fine tip marker in a permanent orange hue to make the canal features more accessible and accurate to visualize. All of the processes were conducted by two highly qualified dentists. The sample size was estimated statistically using the Sealed Envelope program, and the percentage of each configuration was derived in proportion to the overall sample size in order to establish the percentage of each type in each configuration. RESULTS: From the 142 teeth examined, 42 (29.57%) had one root, 97 (68.31%) had two roots, and only three premolars (2.12%) had three roots. Concerning canal configurations, 100 teeth (70.43%) had type (IV) canal configuration, followed by 37 teeth (26.05%) had types (V), three teeth (2.12%) had type (VIII), and one tooth (0.70%) for each of type (I) and type (II). CONCLUSIONS: The anatomical pattern of inspected maxillary first premolars are mainly two rooted and predominantly have a type (IV) canal morphology.

The effect of extraction of the lower first permanent molar on the developing third molar in children.

OBJECTIVE: To find the effect of extraction of the lower first permanent molar in children (aged 8-11 years) on the position and angle of the developing third molar. DESIGN: Retrospective radiographic analysis. PARTICIPANTS: Two cohorts of participants were identified: an extraction group, who had extraction of one or more first permanent molars aged 8-11 years; and a non-extraction group, who retained all mandibular teeth. Both cohorts previously had panoramic radiographs taken at mean ages of 9.7 years (T1), before extraction, and 12.12 years (T2). In total, there were 61 third molars with an associated extracted first permanent molar and 60 third molars with an associated retained first permanent molar. METHODS: A digital radiographic analysis was carried out on the panoramic radiographs to measure the movement of the third molar, vertically and horizontally, and its angle. The magnification of the T1 and T2 radiographs was calibrated. Reliability of the radiographic analysis was confirmed via intra- and inter-rater reliability tests. The extraction and non-extraction groups were compared via independent sample tests. RESULTS: The third molar moved significantly more mesial in the extraction group (P < 0.001) and the angle uprighted significantly more than the non-extraction group (P < 0.001). Vertically, the third molar moved inferiorly in both cohorts with no significant difference. CONCLUSION: In the developing dentition, extraction of the lower first permanent molar encouraged mesial movement and uprighting of the developing third molar. This may improve the likelihood of future eruption of the third molar.

Digital intraoral imaging: analysis of retakes and reduction in radiation exposure using rectangular collimation.

The purposes of this study were to examine the distribution and extent of retakes with digital intraoral imaging when operators transitioned from using round to rectangular collimators and to determine the effect of collimator shape on radiation exposure to patients. This study was conducted using digital intraoral radiographic data from 2018 to 2019 in a dental school radiology clinic. Digital intraoral radiography was performed with round collimators during 2018 and then with rectangular collimators in 2019 with the same cohort of students. Exposure values were obtained, and effective doses were calculated. Although the number of retakes increased with the transition from round to rectangular collimators, the transition also resulted in a statistically significant reduction in the overall effective dose for patients (P < 0.01; Pearson chi-square test), with an average difference of 60% between round and rectangular collimators. Even with the increase in the number of retakes, a decrease in effective dose was observed when rectangular collimation was used. Most retakes were due to placement errors, defined as missing contact points, missing apices of teeth, or a missing area of interest. As students gained more experience and practice with rectangular collimation, the number of retakes decreased. With proper clinical and didactic training and emphasis on the importance of rectangular collimation, a transition from round to rectangular collimation can be achieved with a minimal initial increase in retakes and subsequent normalization of rates, resulting in a significant reduction of the radiation dose to patients.

Reduction of radiations exposure in endodontics: comparative analysis of direct (GX S-700, Gendex) and semidirect (VistaScan Mini View, Dürr) digital systems.

The importance of intraoral periapical radiography is crucial as it represents a fundamental mean of evaluation and diagnosis for supporting bone and teeth hard tissues diseases and pathologies. Even though conventional film technology is still widespread, presently there are many digital radiography alternatives. Direct digital systems are devices with an intraoral sensor wired or paired wireless with a computer. These devices do generate an image immediately during exposure and acquisition. The semi direct digital systems instead are based on phosphor image plates. Digital radiography offers many chances to improve our patient's healthcare standards reducing exposition to X-rays and the related stochastic radiation risk. Aim of this study is to compare the quality of images for endodontic purposes comparing three systems: conventional films, direct digital radiography and semidirect digital radiography.

Imaging modalities to inform the detection and diagnosis of early caries.

BACKGROUND: The detection and diagnosis of caries at the earliest opportunity is fundamental to the preservation of tooth tissue and maintenance of oral health. Radiographs have traditionally been used to supplement the conventional visual-tactile clinical examination. Accurate, timely detection and diagnosis of early signs of disease could afford patients the opportunity of less invasive treatment with less destruction of tooth tissue, reduce the need for treatment with aerosol-generating procedures, and potentially result in a reduced cost of care to the patient and to healthcare services. OBJECTIVES: To determine the diagnostic accuracy of different dental imaging methods to inform the detection and diagnosis of non-cavitated enamel only coronal dental caries. SEARCH METHODS: Cochrane Oral Health's Information Specialist undertook a search of the following databases: MEDLINE Ovid (1946 to 31 December 2018); Embase Ovid (1980 to 31 December 2018); US National Institutes of Health Ongoing Trials Register (ClinicalTrials.gov, to 31 December 2018); and the World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Registry Platform (to 31 December 2018). We studied reference lists as well as published systematic review articles. SELECTION CRITERIA: We included diagnostic accuracy study designs that compared a dental imaging method with a reference standard (histology, excavation, enhanced visual examination), studies that evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of single index tests, and studies that directly compared two or more index tests. Studies reporting at both the patient or tooth surface level were included. In vitro and in vivo studies were eligible for inclusion. Studies that explicitly recruited participants with more advanced lesions that were obviously into dentine or frankly cavitated were excluded. We also excluded studies that artificially created carious lesions and those that used an index test during the excavation of dental caries to ascertain the optimum depth of excavation. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: Two review authors extracted data independently and in duplicate using a standardised data extraction form and quality assessment based on QUADAS-2 specific to the clinical context. Estimates of diagnostic accuracy were determined using the bivariate hierarchical method to produce summary points of sensitivity and specificity with 95% confidence regions. Comparative accuracy of different radiograph methods was conducted based on indirect and direct comparisons between methods. Potential sources of heterogeneity were pre-specified and explored visually and more formally through meta-regression. MAIN RESULTS: We included 104 datasets from 77 studies reporting a total of 15,518 tooth sites or surfaces. The most frequently reported imaging methods were analogue radiographs (55 datasets from 51 studies) and digital radiographs (42 datasets from 40 studies) followed by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) (7 datasets from 7 studies). Only 17 studies were of an in vivo study design, carried out in a clinical setting. No studies were considered to be at low risk of bias across all four domains but 16 studies were judged to have low concern for applicability across all domains. The patient selection domain had the largest number of studies judged to be at high risk of bias (43 studies); the index test, reference standard, and flow and timing domains were judged to be at high risk of bias in 30, 12, and 7 studies respectively. Studies were synthesised using a hierarchical bivariate method for meta-analysis. There was substantial variability in the results of the individual studies, with sensitivities that ranged from 0 to 0.96 and specificities from 0 to 1.00. For all imaging methods the estimated summary sensitivity and specificity point was 0.47 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.40 to 0.53) and 0.88 (95% CI 0.84 to 0.92), respectively. In a cohort of 1000 tooth surfaces with a prevalence of enamel caries of 63%, this would result in 337 tooth surfaces being classified as disease free when enamel caries was truly present (false negatives), and 43 tooth surfaces being classified as diseased in the absence of enamel caries (false positives). Meta-regression indicated that measures of accuracy differed according to the imaging method (Chi2(4) = 32.44, P < 0.001), with the highest sensitivity observed for CBCT, and the highest specificity observed for analogue radiographs. None of the specified potential sources of heterogeneity were able to explain the variability in results. No studies included restored teeth in their sample or reported the inclusion of sealants. We rated the certainty of the evidence as low for sensitivity and specificity and downgraded two levels in total for risk of bias due to limitations in the design and conduct of the included studies, indirectness arising from the in vitro studies, and the observed inconsistency of the results. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS: The design and conduct of studies to determine the diagnostic accuracy of methods to detect and diagnose caries in situ are particularly challenging. Low-certainty evidence suggests that imaging for the detection or diagnosis of early caries may have poor sensitivity but acceptable specificity, resulting in a relatively high number of false-negative results with the potential for early disease to progress. If left untreated, the opportunity to provide professional or self-care practices to arrest or reverse early caries lesions will be missed. The specificity of lesion detection is however relatively high, and one could argue that initiation of non-invasive management (such as the use of topical fluoride), is probably of low risk. CBCT showed superior sensitivity to analogue or digital radiographs but has very limited applicability to the general dental practitioner. However, given the high-radiation dose, and potential for caries-like artefacts from existing restorations, its use cannot be justified in routine caries detection. Nonetheless, if early incidental carious lesions are detected in CBCT scans taken for other purposes, these should be reported. CBCT has the potential to be used as a reference standard in diagnostic studies of this type. Despite the robust methodology applied in this comprehensive review, the results should be interpreted with some caution due to shortcomings in the design and execution of many of the included studies. Future research should evaluate the comparative accuracy of different methods, be undertaken in a clinical setting, and focus on minimising bias arising from the use of imperfect reference standards in clinical studies.

Comparative analysis of the accuracy of periapical radiography and cone-beam computed tomography for diagnosing complex endodontic pathoses using a gold standard reference - A prospective clinical study.

AIM: To compare the diagnostic accuracy of periapical radiography (PR) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for detecting pathoses of endodontic origin using the gold standard of direct surgical visualization. METHODOLOGY: Seventy-four patients (112 teeth) underwent radiographic examination by periapical radiography and CBCT. The presence of periapical lesions, root perforations and their locations, root fractures, different types of external root resorptive defects, apicomarginal bone defects, through and through bone defects, buccal bone status and proximity of root apices and lesions to vital anatomical structures were assessed. These same parameters were assessed intraoperatively by direct surgical visualization which served as the gold standard reference for the radiographic assessments. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive values, negative predictive values were determined for comparison of diagnostic accuracy between two modalities. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two imaging modalities for root resorptive defects and root fractures. However, CBCT accurately detected periapical lesions, root perforations, apicomarginal bone defects and through and through bone defects. The overall accuracy of CBCT varied from 91% to 96% in detecting dehiscence and fenestration of buccal cortical plates. CONCLUSION: Overall, CBCT had a higher diagnostic accuracy in complex endodontic pathoses compared to PR. Nevertheless, CBCT failed to diagnose apicomarginal bone defects in 33% teeth. In evaluating the status of buccal cortical plate from CBCT images, observers could detect absence of bone better than its presence. Thus, limited FOV CBCT should be considered for selective cases where periapical radiography has diagnostic ambiguity.