• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.59-63
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• 2019

Purpose: This study evaluated the prevalence and characteristics of maxillary antroliths using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans performed for maxillofacial diagnostic purposes. Materials and Methods: CBCT scans of 13,946 patients over the age of 20 were reviewed for maxillary antroliths, and prevalence according to sex, age, and the side of the jaw was calculated. The relationships of single or multiple antroliths with sex, side, and the degree of sinus inflammation were evaluated. The shape and dimension of antroliths were also assessed. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the chi-square or Fisher exact tests, and Kendall's tau-b. Results: A total of 138 (0.99%) of the 13,946 patients showed an antrolith in at least 1 sinus. Only 18 patients presented a bilateral manifestation, which brought the total number of sinuses containing an antrolith to 156 (0.56%). Multiple antroliths were observed in 36 sinuses, and the total number of antroliths was 207: 110 punctate, 65 linear, and 32 amorphous. The antrolith dimensions varied from $1mm^2$ to $91mm^2$ (average, $10.2{\pm}15.5mm^2$). No statistically significant differences were found according to sex, side, and age group (P>0.05). However, there was a statistically significant difference between the multiplicity of antrolith and the degree of sinus inflammation (P<0.05). Conclusion: Cone-beam computed tomography is an effective modality for the detection of incidental antroliths. Maxillary antroliths were found to be very rare and were usually asymptomatic. Dentists should have a comprehensive understanding of their diagnosis and treatment in light of possible associated dental problems.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

Purpose: This systematic review aimed to compare assessments of the healing of periapical endodontic surgery using conventional radiography and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: This review of clinical studies was conducted according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. All articles published from 1990 to March 2020 pertaining to clinical and radiographic healing assessments after endodontic surgery using conventional radiography and CBCT were included. The question was "healing assessment of endodontic surgery using cone-beam computed tomography." The review was conducted by manual searching, as well as undertaking a review of electronic literature databases, including PubMed and Scopus. The studies included compared radiographic and CBCT assessments of periapical healing after periapical endodontic surgery. Results: The initial search retrieved 372 articles. The titles and abstracts of these articles were read, leading to the selection of 73 articles for full-text analysis. After the eligibility criteria were applied, 11 articles were selected for data extraction and qualitative analysis. The majority of studies found that CBCT enabled better assessments of healing than conventional radiography, suggesting higher efficacy of CBCT for correct diagnosis and treatment planning. A risk of bias assessment was done for 10 studies, which fell into the low to moderate risk categories. Conclusion: Three-dimensional radiography provides an overall better assessment of healing, which is imperative for correct diagnosis and treatment planning.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.264-275
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• 2023

Objective: To investigate the effects of maxillary orthodontic expansion on the alveolar bone tissue in adult patients treated with aligners by using cone-beam computed tomography. Methods: Thirty patients (22 females and 8 males; mean age: 36.3 years) were treated with Invisalign^® aligners. Cone-beam computed tomography and digital models were obtained before (T0) and after (T1) upper arch expansion. The bone thicknesses in the cervical, middle, and apical areas of the incisors, canines, premolar, and first molars were buccally and palatally measured, totaling 96 areas and 2,880 measurements. The buccolingual inclinations and transverse measurements of the teeth were obtained from digital models to correlate them with the bone changes. The statistical tests used were Student's t-test, analysis of variance, and Pearson's correlation tests (p < 0.05). Results: From the 96 areas evaluated, 84 revealed an increase or stability in the alveolar bone thickness and twelve displayed significant bone loss. Bone changes did not correlate with the tooth inclination and transverse measurements. Conclusions: Within the limitation of the present study, mild levels of upper arch expansion obtained with Invisalign^® aligners in adult patients did not result in any clinically significant loss of alveolar bone thickness.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.71-80
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate age-stratified radiographic features in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis using cone-beam computed tomography. Materials and Methods: In total, 210 joints from 183 patients(144 females, 39 males, ranging from 12 to 88 years old with a mean age of 44.75±19.97 years) diagnosed with temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis were stratified by age. Mandibular condyle position and bony changes (flattening, erosion, osteophytes, subchondral sclerosis, and subchondral pseudocysts in both the condyle and articular eminence, thickening of the glenoid fossa, joint space narrowing, and joint loose bodies) were evaluated through cone-beam computed tomography. After adjusting for sex, the association between age groups and radiographic findings was analyzed using both a multiple regression model and a multinomial logistic regression model(α=0.05). Results: The prevalence of joint space narrowing and protruded condyle position in the glenoid fossa significantly increased with age (P<0.05). The risks of bony changes, including osteophytes and subchondral pseudocysts in the condyle; flattening, erosion, osteophyte, and subchondral sclerosis in the articular eminence; joint loose bodies; and thickening of the glenoid fossa, also significantly rose with increasing age (P<0.05). The number of radiographic findings increased with age; in particular, the increase was more pronounced in the temporal bone than in the mandibular condyle (P<0.05). Conclusion: Increasing age was associated with a higher frequency and greater diversity of bony changes in the temporal bone, as well as a protruded condyle position in the glenoid fossa, resulting in noticeable joint space narrowing in temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.205-209
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• 2007

Purpose: To determine the physical properties of a newly developed cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: We measured and compared the imaging properties for the indirect-type flat panel detector (FPD) of a new CBCT and the single detector array (SDA) of conventional helical CT (CHCT). Results: First, the modulation transfer function (MTF) of the CBCT were superior to those of the CHCT. Second, the noise power spectrum (NPS) of the CBCT were worse than those of the CHCT. Third, detective quantum efficiency (DQE) of the indirect-type CBCT were worse than those of the CHCT at lower spatial frequencies, but were better at higher spatial frequencies. Although the comparison of contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) was estimated in the limited range of tube current, CNR of CBCT were worse than those of CHCT. Conclusion: This study shows that the indirect-type FPD system may be useful as a CBCT detector because of high resolution.

• Journal of Korean Dental Science
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-4
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• 2018

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ossification and maturation of the midpalatal suture in young Koreans using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: The study sample consisted of 40 patients with ages from 8.2 to 23.6 years who visited the Department of Orthodontics, Chung-Ang University Dental Hospital. CBCT images were taken for diagnosis. From the CBCT image, morphological stages and Hounsfield units (HU) of midpalatal suture were obtained to evaluate the midpalatal suture maturation. Spearman's correlation coefficients were calculated to analyze relationships between chronological age, morphological stage, and HU. Result: There was a wide variation in the morphology of the midpalatal suture in each age group. It showed a modest relationship between the chronological age and the degree of morphological stages. Also there was a modest relationship between the chronological age and HU. In contrast, there was a significant relationship between morphological stages and HU of midpalatal suture (P<0.01). Conclusion: CBCT images can be used for the evaluation of midpalatal suture maturation. For the estimation of the prognosis of rapid maxillary expansion, CBCT may be reliable for the assessment of the maturation of the midpalatal suture.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.229-235
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• 2014

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess artifacts induced by metallic restorations in three-dimensional (3D) dental surface models derived by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Fifteen specimens, each with four extracted human premolars and molars embedded in a plaster block, were scanned by CBCT before and after the cavitated second premolars were restored with dental amalgam. Five consecutive surface models of each specimen were created according to increasing restoration size: no restoration (control) and small occlusal, large occlusal, disto-occlusal, and mesio-occluso-distal restorations. After registering each restored model with the control model, maximum linear discrepancy, area, and intensity of the artifacts were measured and compared. Results: Artifacts developed mostly on the buccal and lingual surfaces. They occurred not only on the second premolar but also on the first premolar and first molar. The parametric values increased significantly with increasing restoration size. Conclusions: Metallic restorations induce considerable artifacts in 3D dental surface models. Artifact reduction should be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis and treatment planning when using 3D surface model derived by CBCT in dentofacial deformity patients.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.43-51
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• 2011

Purpose : The purpose of this article is to review the current status of dental caries diagnosis using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods : An online PubMed search was performed to identify studies on caries research using CBCT. Results : Despite its usefulness, there were inherent limitations in the detection of caries lesions through conventional radiograph mainly due to the two-dimensional (2D) representation of caries lesions. Several efforts were made to investigate the three-dimensional (3D) image of lesion, only to gain little popularity. Recently, CBCT was introduced and has been used for diagnosis of caries in several reports. Some of them maintained the superiority of CBCT systems, however it is still under controversies. Conclusion : The CBCT systems are promising, however they should not be considered as a primary choice of caries diagnosis in everyday practice yet. Further studies under more standardized condition should be performed in the near future.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.223-227
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• 2016

A static, unilateral, and focal bone depression located lingually within the ascending ramus, identical to the Stafne's bone cavity of the angle of the mandible, is being reported. During development of the mandible, submandibular gland inclusion may lead to the formation of a lingual concavity, which could contain fatty tissue, blood vessels, or soft tissue. However, similar occurrences in the ascending ramus at the level of the parotid gland are extremely rare. Similar cases were previously reported in dry, excavated mandibles, and 3 cases were reported in living patients. A 52-year-old African American male patient was seen for pain in the mandibular teeth. Panoramic radiography showed an unusual concavity within the left ascending ramus. Cone-beam computed tomography confirmed this incidental finding. The patient was cleared for the extraction of non-restorable teeth and scheduled for annual follow-up.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.275-279
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• 2017

Soft tissue calcification is a pathological condition in which calcium and phosphate salts are deposited in the soft tissue organic matrix. This study presents an unusual calcification noted in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. A 67-year-old woman presented for dental treatment, specifically for implant placement, and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed. The CBCT scan was reviewed by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist and revealed incidental findings of 2 distinct calcifications in the cartilaginous portion of the Eustachian tube. To the authors' knowledge, no previous study has reported the diagnosis of Eustachian tube calcification using CBCT. This report describes an uncommon variant of Eustachian tube calcification, which has a significant didactic value because such cases are seldom illustrated either in textbooks or in the literature. This case once again underscores the importance of having CBCT scans evaluated by a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist.