Cone-beam CT evaluation of post-extraction alveolar bone changes at the maxillary incisor sites in an East Asian population: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Understanding the characteristics of alveolar bone resorption in an East Asian population after maxillary incisor extraction and providing a reference for implant treatment plans. Study design: Cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) data of 125 East Asian patients with unilateral extraction of maxillary incisors for 3 months were collected. The alveolar bone width and height in the extraction sites were measured and compared with the corresponding contralateral sites. Results: The differences in alveolar bone width between the extraction site and contralateral site were as follows: 4.11 mm, 2.68 mm, and 2.09 mm (3 mm, 5 mm, 7 mm apical from CEJ of the contralateral tooth). Data are expressed as the median. The horizontal resorption ratio of alveolar bone was 49.94 %, 31.5 %, and 24.46 %. The difference in alveolar bone height was 0.78 mm. The vertical resorption ratio was 7.78 %. The resorption did not differ significantly between sexes and was not significantly affected by tooth positions. Conclusions: In the studied East Asian population, significant horizontal and vertical alveolar bone resorption occurs after natural healing of maxillary incisor extraction for 3 months. The closer to the alveolar ridge crest, the more significant the horizontal resorption, resulting in an "inverted triangle" shape residual alveolar bone.

Variations in the Root Form and Root Canal Morphology of Permanent Mandibular canine.

BACKGROUND: Mandibular canines are recognized as usually having one root and one root canal in most cases. However, many investigators have reported the anatomical variations associated with mandibular canines. Thus; the objective of this study is to determine the number of roots and morphology of the root canal system of permanent mandibular canine in a Nepalese population. METHODS: Cone Beam Computerized Tomography images of 390 patients in a Nepalese population were selected, and a total of 780 mandibular canines were analyzed. The number of root and the canal configurations were investigated. Data were analyzed with descriptive analysis and Chi-square tests using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20 (SPSS Inc, Chicago, IL, USA). RESULTS: Out of the 780 mandibular canines, 741(95%) were single-rooted canines while only 39 (5%) were double-rooted canines. The most common type of Vertucci in single-rooted canines was Type I (1-1) in the percentage of 85.6% and the least type was Type IV (1-2) in the percentage of (2.5%). The Chi-square tests showed no significant association between gender and number of roots (P = 0.87) and gender and root canal configuration in single-rooted canine (P = 0.52). CONCLUSIONS: All mandibular permanent canines were single rooted but 5.2% of the permanent mandibular canines had two roots.

A Novel Method for Evaluating Early Tumor Response Based on Daily CBCT Images for Lung SBRT.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to develop a new tumor response assessment method for lung SBRT. METHODS: In total, 132 lung cancer patients with 134 tumors who received SBRT treatment with daily CBCT were included in this study. The information about tumor size (area), contrast (contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR)), and density/attenuation (µ) was derived from the CBCT images for the first and the last fractions. The ratios of tumor area, CNR, and µ (RA, RCNR, Rµ) between the last and first fractions were calculated for comparison. The product of the three rations was defined as a new parameter (R) for assessment. Tumor response was independently assessed by a radiologist based on a comprehensive analysis of the CBCT images. RESULTS: R ranged from 0.27 to 1.67 with a mean value of 0.95. Based on the radiologic assessment results, a receiver operation characteristic (ROC) curve with the area under the curve (AUC) of 95% was obtained and the optimal cutoff value (RC) was determined as 1.1. The results based on RC achieved a 94% accuracy, 94% specificity, and 90% sensitivity. CONCLUSION: The results show that R was correlated with early tumor response to lung SBRT and that using R for evaluating tumor response to SBRT would be viable and efficient.

Optimized workflow to minimise intra-fractional motion during stereotactic body radiotherapy of spinal metastases.

Background and purpose: This study evaluated translational and rotational intra-fractional patient movement during spinal stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using 6D positioning based on 3D cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) and stereoscopic kilovoltage imaging (ExacTrac). The aim was to determine whether additional intra-fractional image verification reduced intra-fractional motion without significantly prolonging treatment time, whilst maintaining acceptable imaging related dose. Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis of 38 patients with 41 primary tumour volumes treated with SBRT between September 2018 and May 2021 was performed. Three different image-guided radiotherapy (IGRT) workflows were assessed. The translational and rotational positioning errors for the different imaging workflows, 3D translational vectors and estimates of imaging dose delivered for the different imaging workflows were evaluated. Results: As the frequency of intra-fractional imaging increased from workflow 1 to 3, the mean intra-fraction 3D translational vector improved from 0.91 mm (±0.52 mm), to 0.64 (±0.34 mm). 85 %, 83 % and 97 % of images were within a tolerance of 1 mm/1° for workflows 1, 2 and 3 respectively, based on post treatment CBCT images. The average treatment time for workflow 3 was 13 min, as compared to 12 min for workflows 1 and 2. The effective dose per treatment for IGRT workflows 1, 2 and 3 measured 0.6 mSv, 0.95 mSv and 1.8 mSv respectively. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the use of additional intra-fractional stereoscopic kilovoltage image-guidance during spinal SBRT, reduced the number of measurements deemed "out of tolerance" and treatment delivery could be optimized within a standard treatment timeslot without applying substantial additional radiation dose.

Three-dimensional evaluation of skeletal and dental changes in patients with skeletal class III malocclusion and facial asymmetry after surgical-orthodontic treatment.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate skeletal and dental changes in patients with skeletal Class III malocclusion and facial asymmetry after surgical-orthodontic treatment using cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT). METHODS: This study included forty adult patients diagnosed with skeletal Class III malocclusion and asymmetry who underwent either isolated mandibular surgery or bimaxillary surgery. CBCT scans were taken before treatment (T0), at the completion of presurgical orthodontic treatment (T1) and after treatment (T2). Mimics 17.0 and 3-Matics 7.0 were used to measure skeletal and dental parameters. Skeletal and dental changes within each group from pretreatment to posttreatment were assessed, and Pearson correlation analysis was used to analyze the correlations among skeletal changes. RESULTS: The three-dimensional changes in condylar position were insignificant after surgical-orthodontic treatment in either group (P > 0.05). However, in the one-jaw surgery group, there were significant backward rotations of the condyle and ramus on the nondeviated side (P < 0.05), and the condyle on the deviated side rotated inward and forward significantly in the two-jaw surgery group (P < 0.05) at T2. There were no significant differences in the changes in the total alveolar bone thickness of bilateral first molars during dental decompensation (P > 0.05). The ratio between the buccal and the total bone thickness around the maxillary first molar on the deviated side decreased significantly at T1, as did those around the mandibular first molar on the nondeviated side (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Condylar angulations were less stable after treatment (7 to 9 months after surgery) in both the one-jaw and the two-jaw surgery groups, while condylar displacements were insignificant. In addition, orthodontists should keep a watchful eye to the relative position of the root in the alveolar bone during tooth decompensation.

Sexual dimorphism of canine volume: a pilot study.

Sex assessment is a crucial part of the biological profile in forensic and archaeological context, but it can be hardly performed in cases of commingled and charred human remains where DNA tests often are not applicable. With time literature have analyzed the sexual dimorphism of teeth (and especially canines), but very few articles take into consideration the teeth volume, although with time several technologies have been introduced in order to assess 3D volume (CT-scan, laser scanner, etc.). This study aims at assessing the sexual dimorphism of dental and pulp chamber volumes of a sample of canines. Cone beam computed tomography analyses were performed by 87 patients (41 males and 46 females, aged between 15 and 83 years) for clinical purposes, and were acquired in order to measure canine volumes. Results show that the dental volume amounted to 0.745 cm(3) (SD 0.126 cm(3)) in males, 0.551 cm(3) (SD 0.130 cm(3)) with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). A diagnostic threshold of 0.619 cm(3) was stated, which provides a percentage of correct answer of 80.5% in the chosen sample. The novel method was then applied with success to 7 archaeological: where in all the cases the results were concordant with those provided by the assessment of the cranium and pelvis. The study adds a contribution to the wide analysis of dental sexual dimorphism confirming the statistically significant differences of volume between males and females and providing a method for the diagnosis of sex applicable to forensic cases.

Low-Dose Radiation Risks of Computerized Tomography and Cone Beam Computerized Tomography: Reducing the Fear and Controversy.

Regulations for protecting humans against stochastic biological effects from ionizing radiation are based on the linear no-threshold (LNT) risk assessment model, which states that any amount of radiation exposure may lead to cancer in a population. Based on the LNT model, risk from low-dose radiation increases linearly with increasing doses of radiation. Imaging procedures in medicine and dentistry are an important source of low-dose ionizing radiation. The increased use of computerized tomography (CT) and cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) has raised health concerns regarding exposure to low-dose ionizing radiation. In oral and maxillofacial surgery and implant dentistry, CBCT is now at the forefront of this controversy. Although caution has been expressed, there have been no direct studies linking radiation exposure from CT and CBCT used in dental imaging with cancer induction. This article describes the concerns about radiation exposure in dental imaging regarding the use of CT.

Retratamento endodôntico: casuística e comparação de dois métodos de diagnóstico por imagem / Endodontic retreatment: case studies and comparison of two methods of diagnosis by image

O exame radiográfico é um componente de diagnóstico essencial no plano de tratamento de problemas de origem endodôntica. Apesar do desenvolvimento técnico-científico da endodontia, o número de retratamentos endodônticos continua elevado. Neste cenário, a tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico (TCFC) é utilizada para se obter imagens tridimensionais sem distorções de estruturas pertencentes ao complexo dento-maxilo-facial e seus tecidos adjacentes. Frente aos fatos, este estudo teve como objetivos comparar a incidência de retratamento endodôntico nos anos de 1997, 2001 e 2007 de pacientes atendidos nas clínicas de endodontia da FOB. Foi analisado e quantificado o total de casos de retratamento de canais, os grupos de dentes mais envolvidos, sua distribuição segundo o gênero, relacionando-se também os possíveis motivos dessa ocorrência; comparar dois métodos de diagnóstico por imagem em odontologia, a tomografia computadorizada de feixe cônico e a radiografia periapical. A comparação foi realizada por dois EXAMINADORES, um endodontista e outro radiologista, os quais analisaram as 102 imagens geradas dos exames de 41 pacientes com a necessidade de retramento endodôntico. Não houve aumento na incidência nos três períodos estudados; houve predomínio para o sexo feminino; o retratamento ocorreu em maior número para o dente incisivo central superior e como motivo para sua realização, a maior incidência foi para obturação endodôntica aquém do limite CDC. Quanto à comparação dos exames por imagem, a TCFC revelou-se o procedimento de maior concordância de diagnóstico entre os profissionais, fato que aponta tal método relevante na concretização do diagnóstico, localização e reconstrução de imagens de ótima resolução, contribuindo com os profissionais no planejamento e no sucesso terapêutico, diminuindo a possibilidade de falhas e o consequente insucesso do tratamento endodôntico.

The radiographic test is an essential diagnosis component in the treatment of problems of endodontic origin. Despite the technical and scientific developments in endodontics, the number of endodontic retreatment continues high. In this scenario, Computerized Beam Cone Tomography (CBCT) is used to obtain three-dimensional images without distortions of structures belonging to the dentomaxillofacial complex and its adjacent tissues. The CBCT allows a precocious detection of the dimension and extension of periapical and resorptive diseases, even before they appear in periapical radiographs. In face of such facts, this study aimed at comparing the incidence of endodontic retreatment in 1997, 2001 and 2007 in patients assisted at FOBs endodontic clinics. For this end, all cases of root canal retreatment were analyzed and quantified, as well as the group of teeth with higher incidence, the distribution according to gender, including a survey of the possible reasons for such occurrence, compare two methods of diagnosis by image in endodontics, the Computerized Beam Cone Tomography and the periapical radiograph. Such comparison was performed by two examiners, an endodontist and a radiologist, who analyzed the 102 images obtained from 41 cases of endodontic retreatment assisted at FOB between 2008 and 2009. For this comparison, a questionnaire about the main findings detected in the images was used. There was no increase in incidence in the three periods on focus and a higher incidence among females; the tooth with higher incidence for retreatment was the maxillary central incisor. The main reason for retreatment was endodontic restoration beneath cement-dentin-root canal limit. As for the comparison of tests by image, CBCT showed to be the procedure of higher concordance of diagnosis among the professionals, what indicates that this method is relevant in the diagnosis, localization and reconstruction of images of fairly good resolution...