Imaging Sci Dent.  2023 Mar;53(1):61-67. 10.5624/isd.20220186.

A novel method of objectively detecting tooth ankylosis using cone-beam computed tomography: A laboratory study

• Martins LAC
• Brasil DM
• Freitas DQ
• Oliveira ML

• KMID: 2541265
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5624/isd.20220186

Abstract

Purpose
The aim of this study was to objectively detect simulated tooth ankylosis using a novel method involving cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
Materials and Methods
Tooth ankylosis was simulated in single-rooted human permanent teeth, and CBCT scans were acquired at different current levels (5, 6.3, and 8 mA) and voxel sizes (0.08, 0.125, and 0.2). In axial reconstructions, a line of interest was perpendicularly placed over the periodontal ligament space of 21 ankylosed and 21 non-ankylosed regions, and the CBCT grey values of all voxels along the line of interest were plotted against their corresponding X-coordinates through a line graph to generate a profile. The image contrast was increased by 30% and 60% and the profile assessment was repeated. The internal area of the resulting parabolas was obtained from all images and compared between ankylosed and non-ankylosed regions under different contrast enhancement conditions, voxel sizes, and mA levels using multi-way analysis of variance with the Tukey post hoc test (α=0.05).
Results
The internal area of the parabolas of all non-ankylosed regions was significantly higher than that of the ankylosed regions (P<0.05). Contrast enhancement led to a significantly greater internal area of the parabolas of non-ankylosed regions (P<0.05). Overall, voxel size and mA did not significantly influence the internal area of the parabolas (P>0.05).
Conclusion
The proposed novel method revealed a relevant degree of applicability in the detection of simulated tooth ankylosis; increased image contrast led to greater detectability.

Keyword

Periodontal Ligament; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Diagnostic Imaging; Imaging, Three-Dimensional