Diagnostic Accuracy of CBCT for the Detection of Accessory Mental Foramina Using Different Devices and Imaging Modalities

This study investigated the diagnostic accuracy of CBCT for detection of accessory mental foramina (AMFs) in dry mandibles using two different devices and three different CBCT imaging modalities. A total of 40 dry mandibles (20 per group) were selected to generate corresponding CBCT images, each with three different CBCT imaging modalities (high, standard, and low doses), using ProMax 3D Mid (Planmeca) and Veraview X800 (J. Morita). The presence, count (n), location, and diameter of the AMFs were measured on both dry mandibles and CBCT scans. The Veraview X800 with different imaging modalities showed the highest accuracy (97.5%), while the ProMax 3D Mid in low-dose imaging modality exhibited the lowest accuracy (93.8%). The most common AMF sites on dry mandibles were anterior-cranial and posterior-cranial, while anterior-cranial was the most frequent on CBCT scans. As for AMF diameter, the mean mesiodistal and vertical diameters on dry mandibles were 1.89 mm and 1.47 mm, respectively, which were greater or equal to the values obtained from CBCT scans. The overall diagnostic accuracy for assessing AMFs exhibited good results, but some caution is warranted when using a low-dose imaging modality with a large voxel size (400 µm).

The Human Bone Collection of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong: History and description of cranial and postcranial skeletal remains.

OBJECTIVES: The present work describes the status and contents of The Human Bone Collection of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Hong Kong. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The Collection originates from the 1980s and became officially established in 2017 for teaching and research purposes. Most of the Collection consists of unclaimed human remains of southern Chinese individuals exhumed from local cemeteries and donated to the Faculty in the last few decades. The demographic information was provided largely from burial records and forensic estimations. Since 2016, the Collection has undergone a process of reorganization into cranial and postcranial remains, followed by preservation procedures that included cleaning and classification. RESULTS: The Collection currently consists of remains belonging to about 368 individuals (243 males, 54 females, 71 unknown), with ages ranging from 0.8 to 90 years (mean 57.4 years). It comprises cranial remains belonging to 260 individuals (169 males, 39 females, 52 unknown), and postcranial remains belonging to 248 individuals (180 males, 42 females, 26 unknown). The preservation status ranges from poor to good, with the cranial remains better preserved than the postcranial elements. For a large number of individuals, ear ossicles, soil samples, and other materials are also available. DISCUSSION: The Collection is accessible to local and international institutions for teaching and research.

Dry Skulls and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) for Teaching Orofacial Bone Anatomy to Undergraduate Dental Students.

Learning bone anatomy of the skull is a complex topic involving three-dimensional information. The impact of the use of human dry skulls and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging was investigated in the teaching of undergraduate dental students. Sixty-four first-year students in the University of Hong Kong were randomly divided into eight groups. Four teaching methods were tested: (1) CBCT followed by standard lecture, (2) CBCT followed by lecture with skulls, (3) standard lecture followed by CBCT, and (4) lecture with skulls followed by CBCT. After each, students were given a multiple-choice questionnaire to assess their objective learning outcome (20 questions) and a questionnaire for their subjective satisfaction (10 statements). Surveys were assessed with Cronbach's alpha, Kendall's tau-b, and principal components analysis. Data were analyzed with Student's t-test and a one-way ANOVA (significance α = 0.05). Standard lecture followed by CBCT showed the highest learning outcome score (81.6% ± 14.1%), but no significant difference was present among four teaching methods. Cone beam computed tomography followed by lecture with skulls scored the highest overall subjective satisfaction (4.9 ± 0.8 out of 6), but no significant difference was present among teaching methods. Nevertheless, students' perception of learning was positively influenced by the use of skulls (P = 0.018). The timing of administration of the CBCT did not affect students' subjective satisfaction or objective learning outcome. Students perceived to learn more by using skulls, but their objective learning outcomes were not significantly affected. A discrepancy seems to exist between students' perception of learning and their effective performance.

Frequency, location, and morphology of accessory maxillary sinus ostia: a retrospective study using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

PURPOSE: To evaluate the reliability of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imagining in the assessment of the frequency, location, and morphological characteristics of accessory maxillary ostia (AMOs), and to analyze a potential association with sinus and dentoalveolar pathologies. METHODS: CBCT scans with bilateral maxillary sinuses that were acquired from September 2016 to September 2018 were initially screened. A total of 160 CBCT scans (320 sinuses) that fulfilled the inclusion criteria were included for further analysis. The presence, location, and morphological characteristics of the AMOs were evaluated in axial, coronal, and sagittal CBCT views. The findings were correlated with age, gender, sinus, and dentoalveolar pathology to assess for potential influencing factors on AMOs. RESULTS: An AMO was present in 151 (47.2%) of the 320 sinuses. Most of the AMOs were located within the region of the nasal fontanelle or hiatus semilunaris (81.1%) presenting with an ovaloid (48.4%) or a round shape (39.0%). The average length of the AMOs was 2.33 ± 1.42 mm, occupying an area of 3.43 ± 4.51 mm2, respectively. Morphological changes of the maxillary sinus mucosa were positively associated with length and area of AMOs. Furthermore, the status of the dentition in the posterior maxilla seemed to be an influencing factor on AMO shape. CONCLUSIONS: Nearly half of the maxillary sinuses assessed in the present study population had an AMO. Pathologies of the maxillary sinus seem to have an impact on AMOs, which is demonstrated here by morphological changes of the sinus mucosa being associated with an increase in length and area of accessory ostia.

The use and performance of artificial intelligence applications in dental and maxillofacial radiology: A systematic review.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the current clinical applications and diagnostic performance of artificial intelligence (AI) in dental and maxillofacial radiology (DMFR). METHODS: Studies using applications related to DMFR to develop or implement AI models were sought by searching five electronic databases and four selected core journals in the field of DMFR. The customized assessment criteria based on QUADAS-2 were adapted for quality analysis of the studies included. RESULTS: The initial electronic search yielded 1862 titles, and 50 studies were eventually included. Most studies focused on AI applications for an automated localization of cephalometric landmarks, diagnosis of osteoporosis, classification/segmentation of maxillofacial cysts and/or tumors, and identification of periodontitis/periapical disease. The performance of AI models varies among different algorithms. CONCLUSION: The AI models proposed in the studies included exhibited wide clinical applications in DMFR. Nevertheless, it is still necessary to further verify the reliability and applicability of the AI models prior to transferring these models into clinical practice.

Visibility, location, and morphology of the primary maxillary sinus ostium and presence of accessory ostia: a retrospective analysis using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).

OBJECTIVES: This retrospective study evaluated the visibility, location, and morphology of the primary maxillary ostium (PMO), as well as the presence and number of accessory maxillary ostia (AMO) in the maxillary sinus using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: CBCT scans with a large field of view with both maxillary sinuses entirely visible, acquired from February 2016 to February 2018, were initially screened. Patients were included if there was no history of surgical intervention/trauma in the sinus region. Two observers evaluated the CBCTs for PMO and AMOs independently. PMO and AMOs were evaluated in axial, coronal, and sagittal CBCT views. In case of disagreement, a third observer served as a referee. The findings were correlated with age, gender, condition of the sinus mucosa, and status of the dentition to assess for potential influencing factors. RESULTS: A total of 184 patients (368 maxillary sinuses) were included. PMO was present and patent in 346 (94.0%) of the 368 analyzed sinuses. Most of the PMOs were located above the attachment of and in the middle third of the inferior turbinate (76.1%) and exhibited a slit shape (71.1%). An AMO was present in 167 (45.5%) of the 368 analyzed sinuses, and 66 (17.9%) sinuses had multiple AMOs. Gender and sinus mucosa morphology were found to be influencing factors for the patency of the PMO. Furthermore, gender seems to be influencing the presence of an AMO. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the analyzed maxillary sinus cavities in the present population had a patent PMO. Being male and having morphological changes of the sinus mucosa were factors associated with a reduced prevalence of a patent PMO. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A maxillary sinus with pathological findings of the mucosa seems to have a reduced prevalence of patent PMOs. Therefore, clinicians should take care to assess any clinical and radiographical sign indicating a potential maxillary sinusitis prior to surgical interventions in this region, especially in cases with planned sinus floor elevation.