Preciseness of artificial intelligence for lateral cephalometric measurements.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the study was to assess the accuracy and efficiency of a new artificial intelligence (AI) method in performing lateral cephalometric radiographic measurements. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 200 lateral cephalometric radiographs were assessed for quality and included. Three methods were used to perform the cephalometric measurements: (1) the AI method using WebCeph software (AssembleCircle Corp., Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea), (2) the modified AI method using WebCeph software after manual modification of the landmarks' position, and (3) using OnyxCeph software (Image Instruments GmbH, Chemnitz, Germany) by manual landmark identification and digital measurements generation. The results of the measurements produced by the three methods were compared, in addition to comparing the time required for the measurements' generation required for each method. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences were detected between the measurements resulting from the three used methods. Fewer differences were detected between the modified AI method and the OnyxCeph method. The AI method produced the measurements the fastest followed by the modified AI method and then the OnyxCeph method. CONCLUSIONS: Considering the used AI software, AI followed by manual tuning of the landmarks' position might be an accurate method in lateral cephalometric analysis. AI alone is still not fully reliable at locating the different landmarks on the lateral cephalometric radiographs.

Three-dimensional dental measurements: An alternative to plaster models.

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of dental measurements taken with calipers on plaster dental casts and those from computed tomography scans of the dentition with a dental measurement program. METHODS: The sample consisted of plaster dental models of 34 orthodontic subjects. Dental arch measurements, including mesiodistal widths of teeth, arch widths, arch lengths, arch perimeters, and palatal depths were made with the calipers. The patients were also scanned with computed tomography, and measurements were made digitally with a 3-dimensional-based dental measurements program (3DD, Biodent, Cairo, Egypt). RESULTS: The results showed strong agreement in most measurements between the conventional method and the 3DD in the 3 planes of space. The mesiodistal measurements of the maxillary right and left second premolars, left central incisor, and right first molar, and the mandibular left and right central incisors, right canine, and left first premolar had fair agreement. CONCLUSIONS: Excellent agreement between the measurements with the conventional and 3DD methods in the 3 planes of space was found; 3DD can be an alternative to conventional stone dental models.

Loss of anchorage of miniscrews: a 3-dimensional assessment.

INTRODUCTION: Miniscrews have exponentially empowered the orthodontic anchorage armamentarium. However, the behavior of miniscrews under loading has not yet been fully investigated. METHODS: Forty miniscrews were used for retraction of the maxillary and mandibular canines into the spaces of extracted first premolars. After a healing period of 2 weeks, a loading force was applied between 150 and 250 g for 6 months. The displacement of the miniscrews, their placement angles, and their implanted percentages into the bone were assessed by using superimposed 3-dimensional volumes of the maxilla and the mandible before and after 6 months of loading of the miniscrews. RESULTS: Miniscrews were displaced in the direction of orthodontic loading. The displacement was experienced in the movement of the head and tail, and extrusion of the miniscrews. These movements were not correlated with the placement angle or the length of miniscrews in the bone. CONCLUSIONS: Movement of miniscrews is to be expected during orthodontic loading. This phenomenon should be considered when determining their dimensions and placement angles to provide the maximum range of action for orthodontic mechanics without midtreatment replacement of miniscrews.

Soft tissue cephalometrics: an overdue evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to compare the accuracy of cephalometric soft tissue linear measurements obtained from conventionally traced cephalograms with those taken directly on patients. This study was conducted on 11 orthodontic patients. Small pieces of orthodontic wire were fixed on five soft tissue landmarks in the midline of the face of each patient. Five linear measurements were taken directly on each patient's face using an electronic Boley gauge reading to the nearest 0.05 mm. Also, a lateral cephalogram was taken of each patient with the aforementioned wires still in place. Using the same gauge, the same linear measurements were taken from the tracings of all cephalograms. The two sets of readings were statistically analyzed using the concordance correlation coefficient and Pearson correlation coefficient. The study concluded that soft tissue measurements on lateral cephalometric radiographs do not give reliable values. A single magnification factor cannot be applied for lateral cephalometric soft tissue measurements in all patients, nor within the same patient.