• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.343-350
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• 2023

Background: Digital panoramic dental X-ray equipment (PDX) is frequently used by patients and dental workers for diagnosis and examination in dental institutions; however, infection control has not been properly implemented. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to systematically review the potential risk of cross-infection in the dental environment by investigating the contamination level of general aerobic bacteria and Staphylococcus aureus, which are important in hospital infections, in PDX areas that people mainly contact. Methods: This survey was conducted from March to May 2023 and covered one general hospital, three dental hospitals, and nine dental clinics equipped with PDX. Bacteria samples were collected from the left-handle, right-handle, forehead support, and head side support as the patient's contact areas, as well as the X-ray exposure switch and left-click mouse button as the dental hygienist's contact areas of the PDX. The collected bacteria were spread on Petrifilm, and colonies formed after 48 hours of culture were counted. Results: General aerobic bacteria and S. aureus were detected in all areas investigated. Significant differences in bacterial counts between different regions of the PDX were observed in both groups (p<0.001). The detection rates of general aerobic bacteria (p<0.001) and S. aureus (p<0.001) were significantly higher in the contact areas of patients than those of dental hygienists. A positive correlation was observed between the forehead and the temple region in terms of general aerobic bacteria and S. aureus detection (r=1) (p<0.01). Conclusion: Taken together, the presence of many bacteria, including S. aureus, detected in PDX indicates that PDX has a potential cross-infection risk. Our results therefore highlight the need for the development of appropriate disinfection protocols for reusable medical devices such as PDX and periodic infection prevention training for hospital-related workers, including dental hygienists.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.57-62
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• 2024

Purpose: This report presents a unique case featuring real, ghost, and pseudo-ghost images on the panoramic radiograph of a patient wearing earrings. It also explains the formation of these images in an easy-to-understand manner. Materials and Methods: One real image and two ghost images appeared on each side of a panoramic radiograph of a patient wearing earrings on both sides. Of the two ghost images on each side, one was considered a typical ghost image and the other was considered a ghost-like real image (pseudo-ghost image). The formation zones of the real, double, and ghost images were examined based on the path and angles of the X-ray beam from the Planmeca ProMax. To simulate the pseudo-ghost and typical ghost images on panoramic radiography, a radiopaque marker was affixed to the right mandibular condyle of a dry mandible, and the position of the mandible was adjusted accordingly. Results: The center of rotation of the Planmeca ProMax extended beyond the jaw area, and the area of double image formation also reached beyond the jaw. The radiopaque-marked mandibular condyle, situated in the outwardly extending area of double image formation, exhibited triple images consisting of real, double (pseudo-ghost), and ghost images. These findings helped to explain the image formation associated with the patient's earrings observed in the panoramic radiograph. Conclusion: Dentists must understand the characteristics and principles of the panoramic equipment they use and apply this understanding to taking and interpreting panoramic radiographs.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.129-133
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• 2001

Purpose: To compare the copper equivalent values measured at premolar and molar areas in the copper equivalent images of panoramic and intraoral radiographs and to evaluate the possibility of the copper equivalent images of panorama for the assessment the bone density. Materials and Methods : Intraoral radiograms at mandibular premolar and molar area and panoramas of 6 human dry skulls were taken with copper-step wedge by Heliodent MD (Siemens Co., Germany) and by Planmeca (PM 2002 CC, Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland) were used for experiment. The copper equivalent values measured at premolar and molar areas in the copper equivalent im ages of panorama and intraoral film were compared. Results: The copper equivalent values were ranged 0.20 mmCu-0.44 mmCu at the molar areas, 0.05 mmCu-0.31 mmCu at the premolar areas on panoramic images. There were no significant differences (p>0.5) between the copper equivalent values on intraoral images and those on panoramic images measured at premolar areas and molar areas respectively. The correlation coefficient between the copper equivalent values on intraoral images and those on panoramic images was respectively 0.8495 at molar areas and 0.6184 at premolar areas. Conclusions : The copper equivalent images of panorama for the assessment the bone density appeared to be significant at molar area compared with the one of intraoral radiograph.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.69-74
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• 2004

Purpose : This study was conducted to compare the radiomorphometric indices of the mandible on panoramic radiographs among three groups of normal, osteopenia and osteoporosis and to determine whether panoramic indices have validity in predicting osteoporotic risk. Materials and Methods: Ninty-four postmenupausal women aged 42-72 years (mean 62±7.5) were examined using dual energy X-ray absorptionmetry (DEXA) of the lumbar and classified into three groups by WHO classification. Panoramic mandibular index (PMI), mandibular cortical thickness (Mental index (MI), Antegonial index (AI), Gonial index (G!)) and the mandibular cortical index (MCI) were measured bilaterally on panoramic radiographs and analyzed. Results: There were signigicant differences among normal, osteopenic and osteoporoti groups in PMI (I), PMI (S), MI, AI, GI and MCI. The sensitivities of the MCI (93%) and the combination index of MCI and MI (90%) in diagnosing osteopenic/osteoporotic cases were high. Conclusion: The widths and shapes of the mandibular cortical bone on panoramic radiography may highly reflect the systemic osteopenic/osteoporotic conditions of the patients.

• The Transactions of the Korea Information Processing Society
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• v.13 no.7
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• pp.326-334
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• 2024

Extra-oral imaging techniques such as Panoramic X-rays (PXs) and Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) are the most preferred imaging modalities in dental clinics owing to its patient convenience during imaging as well as their ability to visualize entire teeth information. PXs are preferred for routine clinical treatments and CBCTs for complex surgeries and implant treatments. However, PXs are limited by the lack of third dimensional spatial information whereas CBCTs inflict high radiation exposure to patient. When a PX is already available, it is beneficial to reconstruct the 3D oral structure from the PX to avoid further expenses and radiation dose. In this paper, we propose 3DentAI - an U-Net based deep learning framework for 3D reconstruction of oral structure from a PX image. Our framework consists of three module - a reconstruction module based on attention U-Net for estimating depth from a PX image, a realignment module for aligning the predicted flattened volume to the shape of jaw using a predefined focal trough and ray data, and lastly a refinement module based on 3D U-Net for interpolating the missing information to obtain a smooth representation of oral cavity. Synthetic PXs obtained from CBCT by ray tracing and rendering were used to train the networks without the need of paired PX and CBCT datasets. Our method, trained and tested on a diverse datasets of 600 patients, achieved superior performance to GAN-based models even with low computational complexity.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2010

Dental panoramic radiography is an imaging technique which shows the information of teeth, jaws and superficial structures on a single image. In this study, we propose the clinical dose reference for dental panoramic radiography. Dental panoramic radiography is an application which can increase the radiation does of oral cavity. It is very important to study the real condition of management for these panoramic X-ray equipments. Since there was no researches on dental panoramic equipments in domestic and foreign study groups, we measured and analyzed the dose such as effective dose, DAP and DWP of panoramic radiography.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.231-235
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the trabecular pattern on panoramic radiographs to predict age-related osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. Materials and Methods: Thirty-one postmenopausal osteoporotic women and 25 postmenopausal healthy women between the ages of 50 and 88 were enrolled in this study. The bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar vertebrae and femur were calculated using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), and panoramic radiographs were obtained. Fractal dimension (FD) was measured using the box counting method from 560 regions of interest ($51{\times}51$ pixels) in 6 sites on the panoramic radiographs. The relationships between age and BMD and between FD and BMD were assessed, and the intraobserver agreement was determined. Results: There was a significant difference in the FD values between the osteoporotic and normal groups (p<0.05). There was a significant difference in the FD values at three sites in the jaws (p<0.05). Age was significantly correlated with the BMD measurements, with an odds ratio of 1.25. However, the FD values were not significantly correlated with the BMD measurements, with an odds ratio of 0.000. The intraobserver agreement showed relatively higher correlation coefficients at the upper premolar, lower premolar, and lower anterior regions than the other sites. Conclusion: Age was an important risk factor for predicting the presence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women. The lower premolar region was the most appropriate site for evaluating the FD value on panoramic radiographs. However, further investigation might be needed to predict osteoporosis using an FD value on panoramic radiographs.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.7-16
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• 1998

The Scanora/sup (R)/ X-ray unit uses the principles of narrow beam radiography and spiral tomography. Starting with a panoramic overview as a scout image. multiple tomographic projections could be selected. This study evaluated the accuracy of spiral tomography in comparison to routine panoramic radiography for dental implant treatment planning. An experimental study was performed on a cadaver mandible to assess the accuracy of panoramic radiography and spiral tomography film images for measurement of metallic spheres. After radiographic images of the metallic spheres on the surgical stent were measured and corrected for a fixed magnification of radiographic images. following results were obtained. 1. In the optimal position of the mandible. the minimal horizontal and vertical distortion was evident in the panoramic radiography images. The mean horizontal and vertical magnification error in anterior sites was 5.25％ and 0.75％. respectively. The mean horizontal and vertical magnification error in posterior sites was 0.50％ and 1.50％. respectively. 2. In the displaced forward or in an eccentric position of the mandible. the magnification error of the panoramic radiography images increased significantly over the optimal position. Overall, the mean horizontal magnification error of the anterior site in the different positions changed dramatically within a range of -17.25％ to 39.00％, compared to the posterior range of -5.25％ to 8.50％. However, the mean vertical magnification error stayed with the range of 0.5％ to 3.75％ for all the mandibular positions. 3. The magnification effects in the tomographic scans were nearly identical for the anterior and posterior with a range of 2.00％ to 5.75％ in the horizontal and 4.50％ to 5.50％ in the vertical dimension, respectively. 4. A statistically significant difference between the anterior and posterior measurements was found in the horizontal measurements of the panoramic radiography images of the displaced forward and backward position of the mandible(P<0.05). Also a significant difference between the optimal panoramic and tomographic projections was found only in the vertical measurement(P<0.05).

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.155-158
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• 2010

Digital radiographic systems allow the implementation of a fully digital picture archiving and communication system (PACS), and provide the greater dynamic range of digital detectors with possible reduction of X-ray exposure to the patient. This article reviewed the basic physical principles of digital radiographic imaging system in dental clinics generally. Digital radiography can be divided into computed radiography (CR) and direct radiography (DR). CR systems acquire digital images using phosphor storage plates (PSP) with a separate image readout process. On the other hand, DR systems convert X-rays into electrical charges by means of a direct readout process. DR systems can be further divided into direct and indirect conversion systems depending on the type of X-ray conversion. While a direct conversion requires a photoconductor that converts X-ray photons into electrical charges directly, in an indirect conversion, lightsensitive sensors such as CCD or a flat-panel detector convert visible light, proportional to the incident X-ray energy by a scintillator, into electrical charges. Indirect conversion sensors using CCD or CMOS without lens-coupling are used in intraoral radiography. CR system using PSP is mainly used in extraoral radiographic system and a linear array CCD or CR sensors, in panoramic system. Currently, the digital radiographic system is an important subject in the dental field. Most studies reported that no significant difference in diagnostic performance was found between the digital and conventional systems. To accept advances in technology and utilize benefits provided by the systems, the continuous feedback between doctors and manufacturers is essential.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.35-41
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• 2003

Purpose: To aid in determining the volume of graft bone required before a maxillary sinus lift procedure and compare the alveolar bone height measurements taken by panoramic radiographs to those by CT images. Materials and Methods : Data obtained by both panoramic radiographs and CT examination of 25 patients were used in this study. Maxillary sinus volumes from the antral floor to heights of 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm, and 20 mm, were calculated. Alveolar bone height was measured on the panoramic images at each maxillary tooth site and corrected by magnification rate (PBH). Available bone height (ABH) and full bone height (FBH) was measured on reconstructed CT images. PBH was compared with ABH and FBH at the maxillary incisors, canines, premolars, and molars. Results: Volumes of the inferior portion of the sinuses were 0.55 ± 0041 ㎤ for 5 mm lifts, 2.11 ± 0.68 ㎤ for 10 mm, 4.26 ± 1.32 ㎤ for 15 mm, 6.95 ± 2.01 ㎤ for 20 mm. For the alveolar bone measurement, measurements by panoramic images were longer than available bone heights determined by CT images at the incisor and canine areas, and shorter than full bone heights on CT images at incisor, premolar, and molar areas (p<0.001). Conclusion: In bone grafting of the maxillary sinus floor, 0.96 ㎤ or more is required for a 5 mm-lift, 2.79 ㎤ or more for a 10 mm-lift, 5.58 ㎤ or more for a 15 mm-lift, and 8.96 ㎤ or more for a 20 mm-lift. Maxillary implant length determined using panoramic radiograph alone could result in underestimation or overestimation, according to the site involved.