X-ray dark-field tomography reveals tooth cracks.

Cracked tooth syndrome (CTS) is a common clinical finding for teeth, it affects about 5% of all adults each year. The finding of CTS is favored by several risk factors such as restorations, bruxism, occlusion habits, and age. Treatment options range, depending on the severity, from no treatment at all to tooth extraction. Early diagnosis of CTS is crucial for optimal treatment and symptom reduction. There is no standard procedure for an evidence-based diagnosis up to date. The diagnosis is a challenge by the fact that the symptoms, including pain and sensitivity to temperature stimuli, cannot be clearly linked to the disease. Commonly used visual inspection does not provide in-depth information and is limited by the resolution of human eyes. This can be overcome by magnifying optics or contrast enhancers, but the diagnosis will still strongly rely on the practicians experience. Other methods are symptom reproduction with percussions, thermal pulp tests or bite tests. Dental X-ray radiography, as well as computed tomography, rarely detect cracks as they are limited in resolution. Here, we investigate X-ray dark-field tomography (XDT) for the detection of tooth microcracks. XDT simultaneously detects X-ray small-angle scattering (SAXS) in addition to the attenuation, whereas it is most sensitive to the micrometer regime. Since SAXS originates from gradients in electron density, the signal is sensitive to the sample morphology. Microcracks create manifold interfaces which lead to a strong signal. Therefore, it is possible to detect structural changes originating from subpixel-sized structures without directly resolving them. Together with complementary attenuation information, which visualizes comparatively large cracks, cracks are detected on all length-scales for a whole tooth in a non-destructive way. Hence, this proof-of principle study on three ex-vivo teeth shows the potential of X-ray scattering for evidence-based detection of cracked teeth.

Diagnosis of cracked teeth using cone-beam computed tomography: literature review and clinical experience.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has been widely used in diagnosis of vertical root fractures (VRFs) in recent years. According to the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) classification, there are five types of cracked teeth and VRF is one of them. Due to the variability and overlapping of the cracks and fractures, some narrow fractures on the roots of VRFs could not be detected by CBCT, and some wide cracks on the crown of cracked teeth could be detected by CBCT. In this review, we firstly discussed the value of CBCT in the diagnosis of the AAE five types of cracked teeth and presented CBCT manifestations of some typical cases. Secondly, we summarized the factors influencing the diagnosis of cracks/fractures using CBCT, namely, CBCT device-related factors, patient-related factors, and evaluator-related factors. The possible strategies to improve the diagnostic accuracy in the clinic practice are also discussed in this part. Finally, we compared the differences of root fractures with lateral canals and external root resorption on CBCT images.

Association between longitudinal tooth fractures and visual detection methods in diagnosis.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the distribution of longitudinal tooth fractures (LTFs) according to the patient's age and analyzed the association between visual detection methods and the types of LTFs. METHODS: Patients with symptomatic teeth with LTFs were examined at the department of conservative dentistry in a dental hospital from September 1, 2009 to March 31, 2014. Naked eye examination, staining with a dye, operating microscopy, transillunimation, and periapical radiography were used to identify the fracture lines. Diagnostic surgery was performed to visualize the fracture line in some cases with vertical root fractures. The final diagnosis was based on the American Association of Endodontists (AAE) classification: cracked tooth, fractured cusp, split tooth, and vertical root facture. The probability density function for each type of LTF was calculated to assess the risks of LTF development according to age. The association between the detection methods and types of LTFs was identified using the association plot. RESULTS: A total of 245 teeth with LTFs were enrolled. Overall, 71.8% of LTFs was observed in patients aged 40-69 years, and 65.7% of LTFs were diagnosed as cracked teeth. The mean age in patients with cracked teeth was 49.3 years, while the mean age in patients with fractured cusps was 59.1 years. A significant association was observed between the detection method and type of LTF (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cracked tooth was the most common type of LTF. The probability of occurrence of cracked teeth peaked in patients aged approximately 50 years, while the probability of occurrence of fractured cusps peaked in patients aged approximately 60 years. Cracked teeth were detected most often using transillumination. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: LTFs occurred mostly in patients aged 40 years and older. Transillumination is useful for the diagnosis of cracked teeth.

Indocyanine green-assisted dental imaging in the first and second near-infrared windows as compared with X-ray imaging.

Indocyanine green (ICG) has been widely used in medical imaging, such as in retinal angiography. Here, we describe a pilot ex vivo study of ICG-assisted near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) dental imaging in the first (700-950 nm for ICG-NIRF-I) and second (1000-1700 nm for ICG-NIRF-II) NIR windows using human extracted teeth; our study is compared with the traditional prevalent X-ray imaging and NIR II illumination (NIRi-II, 1310 nm) without ICG enhancement. The results show that ICG fluorescence has much better imaging contrast in both windows compared with NIRi-II (by quantitatively comparing NIR intensity of the critical neighboring structures, such as enamel and dentin). Cracked teeth, notoriously hard to diagnose by dental X-ray and computed tomography, were clearly profiled in NIRF dental imaging. An insidious occlusal caries, missing in X-ray imaging, became a bright dot that was readily observed in ICG-NIRF-I images. For dental decay, NIRF imaging with ICG enhancement could clearly delineate the decay boundary. NIRF in both windows distinguished interproximal and occlusal superficial caries. Overall, ICG-assisted NIRF dental imaging has unique advantages in identifying cracked teeth and insidious caries. The two NIR imaging windows used in our study might one day serve as noninvasive and nonionizing-radiation methods for the diagnosis of critical dental diseases in situ.

Evaluation of XP-endo Shaper, Reciproc Blue, and ProTaper Universal NiTi Systems on Dentinal Microcrack Formation Using Micro-Computed Tomography.

INTRODUCTION: The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the frequency of dentinal microcracks observed after root canal preparation with XP-endo Shaper (XP), Reciproc Blue (RB), and ProTaper Universal (PTU) instruments using micro-computed tomographic (µCT) analysis. METHODS: Thirty extracted mandibular first and second molars with mesial roots having 2 separate canals with an angle between 10°and 20° were randomly assigned to 3 experimental groups (n = 10) according to the different nickel-titanium systems used for root canal preparation: XP, RB, and PTU. The specimens were scanned using µCT imaging before and after root canal preparation. Then, preoperative and postoperative cross-sectional images of the teeth were evaluated to identify the presence of dentinal defects. For each group, the number of microcracks was determined as a percentage rate. The McNemar test was used to determine significant differences before and after instrumentation. The level of significance was set at P ≤ .05. RESULTS: No new dentinal microcracks were observed in the XP and RB groups. The PTU system significantly increased the percentage rate of microcracks compared with preoperative specimens (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Root canal preparations with XP and RB systems might not induce the formation of new dentinal microcracks on the mesial roots of mandibular molars. Further assessments are suggested for the examination of the morphology of microcracks after the use of these instruments.

Associations of types of pain with crack-level, tooth-level and patient-level characteristics in posterior teeth with visible cracks: Findings from the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to determine which patient traits, behaviors, external tooth and/or crack characteristics correlate with the types of symptoms that teeth with visible cracks exhibit, namely pain on biting, pain due to cold stimuli, or spontaneous pain. METHODS: Dentists in the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network enrolled a convenience sample of subjects each of whom had a single, vital posterior tooth with at least one observable external crack (cracked teeth); 2858 cracked teeth from 209 practitioners were enrolled. Data were collected at the patient-, tooth-, and crack-level. Generalized estimating equations were used to obtain significant (p < .05) independent odds ratios (OR) associated with teeth that were painful for 10 outcomes based on types of pain and combinations thereof. RESULTS: Overall, 45% of cracked teeth had one or more symptoms. Pain to cold was the most common symptom, which occurred in 37% of cracked teeth. Pain on biting (16%) and spontaneous pain (11%) were less common. Sixty-five percent of symptomatic cracked teeth had only one type of symptom, of these 78% were painful only to cold. No patient-, tooth- or crack-level characteristic was significantly associated with pain to cold alone. Positive associations for various combinations of pain symptoms were present with cracks that: (1) were on molars; (2) were in occlusion; (3) had a wear facet through enamel; (4) had caries; (5) were evident on a radiograph; (6) ran in more than one direction; (7) blocked transilluminated light; (8) connected with another crack; (9) extended onto the root; (10) extended in more than one direction; or (11) were on the distal surface. Persons who were <65 yo or who clench, grind, or press their teeth together also were more likely to have pain symptoms. Pain was less likely in teeth with stained cracks or exposed roots, or in non-Hispanic whites. CONCLUSIONS: Although pain to cold was the most commonly noted pain associated with symptomatic cracked teeth, no patient-, tooth- or crack-level characteristic was significantly associated with pain to cold alone. Characteristics were only associated with pain on biting and/or spontaneous pain with or without pain to cold. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Although often considered the most reliable diagnosis for a cracked tooth, pain on biting is not the most common symptom of a tooth with a visible crack, but rather pain to cold.

Predicting extension of cracks to the root from the dimensions in the crown: A preliminary in vitro study.

BACKGROUND: In this study, the authors investigated whether extension of a tooth crack into the root can be predicted by the appearance of the crack in the crown in vitro. METHODS: The authors obtained 22 cracked teeth from 22 patients who underwent extraction, and they scanned the teeth using microcomputed tomography. The length and width of the crack on the occlusal surface (LOS and WOS, respectively) and the length of the crack on the proximal surface (LCPS) were measured on 3-dimensional reconstruction images. The pulp chamber roof was penetrated and removed. A crack line visible under the microscope only on the access cavity wall rather than extending to the bottom of the pulp chamber was termed a "nonroot crack." A crack seen at the bottom of the pulp chamber or root wall was termed a "root crack." The authors analyzed the data using Pearson correlation coefficients and receiver operating characteristic curves. RESULTS: There was a significant correlation between the LOS and LCPS (correlation coefficient, 0.782; P < .001) and between the WOS and LCPS (correlation coefficient, 0.651; P < .05). The LCPS increased by 1.195 millimeters for every 1-mm increase in the LOS. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.839 (95% confidence interval, 0.659 to 1.000) for LOS and 0.760 (95% confidence interval, 0.557 to 0.964) for WOS. CONCLUSIONS: The extent of a crown crack may indicate how far the crack extends to the root. Both the LOS and WOS may be valuable for assessing whether a crack involves the root, although the LOS seems to be more useful. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The dimensions of a crack in a crown provide a helpful approach for predicting the depth of the crack and its likely prognosis.

New fabrication method using additive manufacturing technologies for the pattern of pressed lithium disilicate onlay restorations / Novo método de fabricação, usando tecnologia aditiva, do padrão de restaurações do tipo onlay em dissilicato de lítio injetado

The digital workflow in dentistry allows for complete digital processing of the restoration starting with the digital impression using an intraoral scanner to until the fabrication of final reconstruction. Recent advances in 3D printing technologies opened new possibilities also for dental technicians through which wax-up and casting procedures in the laboratories could be eliminated. In this clinical report, a technique is described where the pattern was fabricated using additive manufacturing for pressed lithium disilicate onlay restorations. (AU)

O fluxo de trabalho digital em odontologia permite o processamento digital completo da restauração começando com a impressão digital usando um scanner intraoral até a fabricação da peça final. Os avanços recentes nas tecnologias de impressão 3D abriram novas possibilidades também para os técnicos em prótese dentária através dos quais os procedimentos de cera e fundição nos laboratórios poderiam ser eliminados. Neste relato de caso clínico, descreve-se uma técnica onde o padrão foi fabricado usando a fabricação de aditivos para restaurações do tipo onlay em dissilicato de lítio injetadas. (AU)

Role of MRI for detecting micro cracks in teeth.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the limit of tooth crack width visualization by two MRI pulse sequences in comparison with CBCT. METHODS: Two extracted human teeth with known crack locations and dimensions, as determined by reference standard microCT, were selected for experimental imaging. Crack location/dimension and the presence of common dental restorative materials such as amalgam were typical of that found clinically. Experimental imaging consisted of conventional CBCT scans and MRI scans with two pulse sequences including Sweep Imaging with Fourier Transformation (SWIFT) and gradient echo (GRE). CBCT and MR images of extracted teeth were acquired using acquisition parameters identical to those used for in vivo imaging. Experimental and reference standard images were registered and the limit of tooth crack visualization was determined. RESULTS: Collected images indicate that SWIFT could demonstrate cracks with 20-µm width, which is 10 times narrower than the imaging voxel size. Cracks of this size were not visible in GRE images, even with a short echo time of 2.75 ms. The CBCT images were distorted by artefacts owing to close location of metallic restorations. CONCLUSIONS: The successful visualization of cracks with the SWIFT MRI sequence compared with other clinical modalities suggests that SWIFT MRI can effectively detect microcracks in teeth and therefore may have potential to be a non-invasive method for the in vivo detection of cracks in human teeth.

Detection and Analysis of Enamel Cracks by Quantitative Light-induced Fluorescence Technology.

INTRODUCTION: The ability to accurately detect tooth cracks and quantify their depth would allow the prediction of crack progression and treatment success. The aim of this in vitro study was to determine the capabilities of quantitative light-induced fluorescence (QLF) technology in the detection of enamel cracks. METHODS: Ninety-six extracted human teeth were selected for examining naturally existing or suspected cracked teeth surfaces using a photocuring unit. QLF performed with a digital camera (QLF-D) images were used to assess the ability to detect enamel cracks based on the maximum fluorescence loss value (ΔFmax, %), which was then analyzed using the QLF-D software. A histologic evaluation was then performed in which the samples were sectioned and observed with the aid of a polarized light microscope. The relationship between ΔFmax and the histology findings was assessed based on the Spearman rank correlation. The sensitivity and specificity were calculated to evaluate the validity of using QLF-D to analyze enamel inner-half cracks and cracks extending to the dentin-enamel junction. RESULTS: There was a strong correlation between the results of histologic evaluations of enamel cracks and the ΔFmax value, with a correlation coefficient of 0.84. The diagnostic accuracy of QLF-D had a sensitivity of 0.87 and a specificity of 0.98 for enamel inner-half cracks and a sensitivity of 0.90 and a specificity of 1.0 for cracks extending to the dentin-enamel junction. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that QLF technology would be a useful clinical tool for diagnosing enamel cracks, especially given that this is a nondestructive method.

Pre-clinical evaluation of a new dental panoramic radiographic system based on tomosynthesis method.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of the study was to compare the image generated by a classic panoramic machine equipped with a cadmium telluride sensor capable of digital tomosynthesis and special software with images produced by other popular panoramic X-ray machines using a charge-coupled device and native software for image capture. METHODS: Panoramic images were made using a phantom of a human skull on Planmeca ProMax, Planmeca EC Proline, Kodak 8000 and PC-1000. With the last machine we used the PanoACT® software to adjust the entire arch and to adjust the image in selected regions of interest (ROIs). Ten viewers evaluated the images and provided the viewer data. ANOVA for repeated measures was used to compare the means by pairwise comparisons of means. RESULTS: The image of the entire arch adjusted by the PanoACT® software was statistically superior to the images produced by other machines. The images generated and individually adjusted by PanoACT® were statistically superior to all other images. CONCLUSIONS: The image generated by the cadmium telluride sensor has great potential and can be processed to create superior images to those taken with other machines. Furthermore, the ROI individual images enhanced by the PanoACT® were superior to the entire arch adjusted by the same software.

Ultrasound crack detection in a simulated human tooth.

OBJECTIVE: Currently, diagnosis of cracked teeth generally depends upon the overall clinical assessment, or on exclusion of other clinical possibilities, not primarily on the direct identification of cracks themselves. Owing to its short wavelength in hard tissues and associated high resolution, ultrasound has the potential to allow detection of cracks within tooth structure. However, ultrasound detection of dental cracks has not previously been achieved. The purpose was to determine if an ultrasound imaging system was capable of imaging cracks in simulated tooth structure. METHODS: A complete ultrasound system including a novel transducer made of PLZT-98, a novel gallium-indium alloy coupling agent, and customized electronic and digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms was developed for the specific application of optimizing crack detection within teeth. A simulated tooth with a known and uniform internal structure and acoustic properties similar to those of natural enamel and dentin was designed to model a human tooth with a crack located in dentin deep to the dentino-enamel junction (DEJ). The distance between the DEJ and a crack of the simulated tooth were calculated. RESULTS: The system unequivocally distinguished between areas with and without a simulated crack. CONCLUSION: A unique ultrasound dental crack detection system using a novel transducer; a novel coupling agent; and customized electronic and digital signal processing (DSP) algorithms has been validated in a simulated tooth.

Incomplete tooth fracture--proposal for a new definition.

Many terms have been used to describe incomplete tooth fractures. This paper reviews them, discusses the clinical features of incomplete tooth fractures and proposes a clinically representative definition.