• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2023

Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a specialized medical equipment and plays a significant role in the diagnosis of oral and maxillofacial diseases and abnormalities; however, it is attributed to risk of exposure of ionizing radiation. The aim of the study was to estimate and determine the amount of scattered radiation dose to the thyroid gland in dental CBCT during maxilla and mandible scan. Materials and Methods: The average scattered radiation dose for i-CAT 17-19 Platinum CBCT (Imaging Sciences International) was measured using a Multi-O-Meter (Unfors Instruments), placed at the patient's neck on the skin surface of the thyroid cartilage, with an exposure parameter of 120 kVp and 37.07 mAs. The surface entrance dose was noted using the Multi-O-Meter, which was placed at the time of the scan at the level of the thyroid gland on the anterior surface of the neck. Results and Discussion: The surface entrance dose to the thyroid from both jaws scans was 191.491±78.486 µGy for 0.25 mm voxel and 26.9 seconds, and 153.670±74.041 µGy from the mandible scan, whereas from the maxilla scan the surface entrance dose was 5.259±10.691 µGy. Conclusion: The surface entrance doses to the thyroid gland from imaging of both the jaws, and also from imaging of the maxilla and mandible alone were within the threshold limit. The surface entrance dose and effective dose in CBCT were dependent on the exposure parameters (kVp and mAs), scan length, and field of view. To further reduce the radiation dose, care should be taken in selecting an appropriate protocol as well as the provision of providing shielding to the thyroid gland.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.21-26
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• 2023

Purpose: A fully digital approach to oral prosthodontic rehabilitation requires the possibility of combining (i.e., registering) digital documentation from different sources. This becomes more complex in an edentulous jaw, as fixed dental markers to perform reliable registration are lacking. This validation study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of 1) intraoral scanning and 2) soft tissue-based registration of an intraoral scan with a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan for a fully edentulous upper jaw. Materials and Methods: Two observers independently performed intraoral scans of the upper jaw in 14 fully edentulous patients. The palatal vault of both surface models was aligned, and the inter-observer variability was assessed by calculating the mean inter-surface distance at the level of the alveolar crest. Additionally, a CBCT scan of all patients was obtained and a soft tissue surface model was generated using patient-specific gray values. This CBCT soft tissue model was registered with the intraoral scans of both observers, and the intraclass correlation coefficient(ICC) was calculated to evaluate the reproducibility of the registration method. Results: The mean inter-observer deviation when performing an intraoral scan of the fully edentulous upper jaw was 0.10±0.09 mm. The inter-observer agreement for the soft tissue-based registration method was excellent(ICC=0.94; 95% confidence interval, 0.81-0.98). Conclusion: Even when teeth are lacking, intraoral scanning of the jaw and soft tissue-based registration of an intraoral scan with a CBCT scan can be performed with a high degree of precision.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.41-49
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• 2022

Objectives: We compared changes in fractal dimension (FD) and grayscale value (GSV) of peri-implant alveolar bone on digital panoramic radiography (DPR) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) immediately after implant surgery and 12 months postoperative. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective study, 16 patients who received posterior mandibular area dental implants with CBCT scans taken about 2 weeks after implantation and one year after implantation were analyzed. A region of interest was selected for each patient. FDs and GSVs were evaluated immediately after implant surgery and at 12-month follow-up to examine the functional loading of the implants. Results: There were no significant differences between DPR and CBCT measurements of FD values (P>0.05). No significant differences were observed between FD values and GSVs calculated after implant surgery and at the 12-month follow-up (P>0.05). GSVs were not correlated with FD values (P>0.05). Conclusion: The DPR and reconstructed panoramic CBCT images exhibit similar image quality for the assessment of FD. There were no changes in FD values or GSVs of the peri-implant trabecular bone structure at the 12-month postoperative evaluation of the functional loading of the implant in comparison to values immediately after implantation. GSVs representing bone mass do not align with FD values that predict bone microstructural parameters. Therefore, GSVs and FDs should be considered different parameters for assessing bone quality.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.375-381
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• 2023

Purpose: This study assessed the diagnostic performance of stitched and non-stitched cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of non-displaced ovine mandibular fractures. Materials and Methods: In this ex vivo study, non-displaced fractures were artificially created in 10 ovine mandibles (20 hemi-mandibles) using a hammer. The control group comprised 8 hemi-mandibles. The non-displaced fracture lines were oblique or vertical, <0.5 mm wide, 10-20 mm long, and only in the buccal or lingual cortex. Fracture lines in the ramus and posterior mandible were created to be at the interface or borders of the 2 stitched images. CBCT images were obtained from the specimens with an 80 mm×80 mm field of view before and after fracture induction. OnDemand software (Cybermed, Seoul, Korea) was used for stitching the CBCT images. Four observers evaluated 56 (28 stitched and 28 non-stitched) images to detect fracture lines. The diagnostic performance of stitched and non-stitched images was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Sensitivity and specificity values were also calculated (alpha=0.05). Results: The AUC was calculated to be 0.862 and 0.825 for the stitched and non-stitched images, respectively (P=0.747). The sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 75% for the non-stitched images and 85% and 87% for the stitched images, respectively. The inter-observer reliability was shown by a Fleiss kappa coefficient of 0.79, indicating good agreement. Conclusion: No significant difference was found in the diagnostic performance of stitched and non-stitched cross-sectional CBCT images of non-displaced fractures of the ovine mandible.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.152-158
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• 2023

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to evaluate changes in joint space (JS) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images of patients diagnosed with temporomandibular joint (TMJ) osteoarthritis (OA) and to determine the association between occlusal changes and JS. Methods: CBCT images were used to measure the anterior, superior, and posterior JSs of the sagittal plane. The differences in JS values over time and between groups were compared. The percentage change in the anteroposterior position of the mandibular condyle between groups was also analyzed. Results: Thirty-four subjects (mean age=43.91±20.13), comprising eight males (23.5%) and 26 females (76.5%), were divided into 18 patients with no change in occlusion (NCO) and 16 patients with a change in occlusion (CO) during TMJ OA. The JS measurements of the study subjects showed a decrease in anterior joint space (AJS) values over time. There was no difference in JS measurements between the groups at T1 and T2. AJS values measured at T1 were lower in the CO group than in the NCO group, but the difference was not statistically significant. In both groups, a posterior position of the mandibular condyle was initially observed with high frequency. However, there is a statistically significant difference in CBCT images taken after occlusal changes, with an increased frequency of condyles observed in the anterior or central positions. Conclusions: In conclusion, AJS decreased over time in TMJ OA, and the mandibular condyle became more anteriorly positioned with occlusal changes. Therefore, clinicians should diligently monitor mandibular condyle morphology and JS using CBCT, along with the patient's clinical symptoms, to treat and control TMJ OA effectively.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.54 no.1
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• pp.49-56
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• 2024

Purpose: This study evaluated the impact of artifacts generated by metal crowns on the detection of proximal caries lesions in teeth at various distances using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Additionally, the diagnostic impacts of tube current and metal artifact reduction (MAR) were investigated. Materials and Methods: Thirty teeth were arranged within 10 phantoms, each containing 1 first premolar, 1 second premolar, and 1 second molar. A sound first molar (for the control group) or a tooth with a metal crown was placed. Of the 60 proximal surfaces evaluated, 15 were sound and 45 exhibited enamel caries. CBCT scans were acquired using an OP300 Maxio unit (Instrumentarium, Tuusula, Finland), while varying the tube current (4, 8, or 12.5 mA) and enabling or disabling MAR. Five observers assessed mesial and distal surfaces using a 5-point scale. Multi-way analysis of variance was employed for data comparison, with P<0.05 indicating statistical significance. Results: The area under the curve (AUC) varied from 0.40 to 0.60 (sensitivity: 0.28-0.45, specificity: 0.44-0.80). The diagnostic accuracy was not significantly affected by the presence of a metal crown, milliamperage, or MAR(P>0.05). However, the overall AUC and specificity were significantly lower for surfaces near a crown (P<0.05). Conclusion: CBCT-based caries detection was not influenced by the presence of a metal crown, variations in milliamperage, or MAR activation. However, the diagnostic accuracy was low and was further diminished for surfaces near a crown. Consequently, CBCT is not recommended for the detection of incipient caries lesions.

• Nuclear Engineering and Technology
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• v.55 no.8
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• pp.2854-2863
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• 2023

Objective: To present a hybrid approach that incorporates a constrained beam-hardening estimator (CBHE) and deep learning (DL)-based post-refinement for metal artifact reduction in dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: Constrained beam-hardening estimator (CBHE) is derived from a polychromatic X-ray attenuation model with respect to X-ray transmission length, which calculates associated parameters numerically. Deep-learning-based post-refinement with an artifact disentanglement network (ADN) is performed to mitigate the remaining dark shading regions around a metal. Artifact disentanglement network (ADN) supports an unsupervised learning approach, in which no paired CBCT images are required. The network consists of an encoder that separates artifacts and content and a decoder for the content. Additionally, ADN with data normalization replaces metal regions with values from bone or soft tissue regions. Finally, the metal regions obtained from the CBHE are blended into reconstructed images. The proposed approach is systematically assessed using a dental phantom with two types of metal objects for qualitative and quantitative comparisons. Results: The proposed hybrid scheme provides improved image quality in areas surrounding the metal while preserving native structures. Conclusion: This study may significantly improve the detection of areas of interest in many dentomaxillofacial applications.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.153-163
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• 2014

3-dimensional information for anatomic stucture plays a role as integral part in clinical aspect of dental practice. CBCT(cone beam computed tomography) has been accepted as useful diagnostic tool offering Volume data and images for evaluating teeth and jaws in lower radiation dose than conventional CT. CBCT equipment is essential for the quality assurance of it to ensure continued satisfactory performance and result of adequate images. Dental practitioner and oral and maxillofacial radiologist should have a responsibility and critical thinking to deliver this technology to patients in a responsible way, so that diaganostic value is maximised and radiation doses kept as low as resonably achievable. CBCT imaging modality should be used only after a review of the patient's health and imaging history and the completion of a thorough clinical examination. Clinical guidelines are systematically developed statements to assist practitioner and patient decisions about appropriate health care for specific clinical circumstances Dental practitioners should prescribe CBCT imaging only when they expect that the diagnostic yield will benefit patient care, enhance patient safety or improve clinical outcomes significantly. Knowledge of patient dose is essential for clinicians who are making the decision regarding the justification of the exposure. There are some limitation in the measurement of patient dose in CBCT for the approval and adaptation of conventinal methodolgy in CT. It is also important to ensure that doses are optimised and in line with any national and international guidelines. The higher radiation doses of CBCT compared with conventional radiography, mean that high standards must be maintained. The Quality Assurance(QA) programme should entail surveys and checks that are performed according to a regular timetable. QA programme should be maintained by staff to ensure adherence to the programme and to raise its importance among staff.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.215-218
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• 2013

Periapical cemento-osseous dysplasia (PCOD) is a subtype of cemento-osseous dysplasia that usually occurs in middle-aged black women. This report described a case of a 45-year-old Iranian woman who was diagnosed with PCOD on the basis of cone beam computed tomographic (CBCT) findings. CBCT enabled detailed visualization of the bone changes. This report described the special radiographic characteristics of PCOD, including discontinuity of the lingual cortex on the CBCT sectional and three-dimensional images.

• The korean journal of orthodontics
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.271-278
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• 2013

Objective: The purposes of this study were to determine the accuracy of crown and root length measurements of premolars using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to generate reference CBCT-based data on incisor, canine, and premolar lengths in patients with malocclusions. Methods: Imaging was performed using a CBCT scanner with a 0.292-mm voxel size and 12-bit grayscale. The CBCT-based length measurements were compared with direct measurements of 94 subsequently extracted premolars without metal restorations using the paired t-test. Furthermore, the crown and root lengths of incisors, canines, and premolars in 62 Korean patients with malocclusions were measured using CBCT, and Pearson's correlation coefficients were calculated to examine the relationship between the crown and root length measurements of each tooth type. Results: The differences between the CBCT-based and direct measurements of the extracted premolars were not significant, with 95% limits of agreement of -0.90 to 0.90 mm for crown length and -1.23 to 1.18 mm for root length. Weak positive correlations between the crown and root length measurements were observed for the mandibular canine and premolars. Conclusions: The CBCT-based measurements showed a wider range of limits of agreements for root length than for crown length. The CBCT-based data can be used as a reference for evaluating root length and resorption of teeth without metal restorations in patients with malocclusions.