• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.36 no.3
• /
• pp.137-143
• /
• 2006

Purpose : To evaluate location, distribution, diameter, and length of the nutrient canals on mandibular anterior region using a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods : Mandibular CBCT was performed on 33 adults (18 males and 15 females) with no history of systemic disease, and any other dental surgery history Location, distribution, diameter, and length of the nutrient canals on mandibular anterior region were radiographically evaluated. A statistical comparison was done by SPSS. Results : In the location and distribution of nutrient canals, they were found in 6.8% at labial portion above root apex, in 93.28% at lingual portion above root apex in 46.2% at labial portion below root apex, and in 53.6% at lingual portion below root apex. Nutrient canals at lingual portion above root apex were most frequently observed between central and lateral incisors, and those at labial and lingual portion below root apex were most frequently observed between central incisors. The mean diameters of nutrient canals were 0.54 mm at labial portion above root apex, 0.61 mm at lingual portion above root apex, 0.66 mm at labial portion below root apex, and 0.76 mm at lingual portion below root apex. The mean lengths of nutrient canals were 2.63 mm at labial portion above root apex, 3.74 mm at lingual portion above root apex, 4.51 mm at labial portion below root apex, and 6.77 mm at lingual portion below root apex. Conclusion : CBCT is useful device to evaluate the anatomical structure of nutrient canals on mandibular anterior region.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.35-42
• /
• 2003

Purpose: This study was aimed to investigate the relationship between the mandibular asymmetry and the internal derangement of temporomandibular joint. Materials and methods: One hundred and sixty eight patients had been assessed through clinical examinations, panoramic radiographs and magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs), were selected. The samples were classified into three subgroups according to the severity of the mandibular asymmetries in the panoramic radiographs and the status of TMJ discs on the MRI were compared among each groups. Results: In an apparent asymmetry group, there was a significant difference in the number of temporomandibular disk displacement without reduction between the long and short side (66.7%, 18/27 joints on the short side) when the ratio of condylar process and coronoid process was used (p<0.05), but there was no statistically significant difference when the ratio of condyle and ramus was used. Conclusion: The probability of the disc displacement without reduction was higher at the side with relatively shorter condylar process on the panoramic radiograph, and also it might be more effective to use ratio of condylar process and coronoid process in the assessment of mandibular asymmetry. Therefore, a careful assessment on the temporomandibular disorders is necessary to diagnose and establish the treatment plans for the patients with a mandibular asymmetry and the panoramic radiograph can be used effectively on that way.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.63-68
• /
• 2016

Panoramic radiographs are a relatively simple technique that is commonly used in all dental specialties. In panoramic radiographs, in addition to the formation of real images of metal objects, ghost images may also form, and these ghost images can hinder an accurate diagnosis and interfere with the accuracy of radiology reports. Dentists must understand the formation of these images in order to avoid making incorrect radiographic diagnoses. Therefore, the present study sought to present a study of the formation of panoramic radiograph ghost images caused by metal objects in the head and neck region of a dry skull, as well as to report a clinical case in order to warn dentists about ghost images and to raise awareness thereof. An understanding of the principles of the formation of ghost images in panoramic radiographs helps prevent incorrect diagnoses.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.157-164
• /
• 2017

Purpose: This study determined and compared the distances from the maxillary root apices of posterior teeth to the floor of the maxillary sinus, or maxillary sinus distances(MSDs), and the distances from the mandibular root apices of the posterior teeth to the mandibular canal, or mandibular canal distances(MCDs), in Thai subjects with skeletal open bite and skeletal normal bite. Materials and Methods: Pretreatment cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images were obtained from 30 Thai orthodontic patients (15 patients with skeletal normal bite and 15 with skeletal open bite) whose ages ranged from 14 to 28 years. The CBCT images of the patients were processed and measured using the Romexis Viewer program. The MSDs and MCDs from the root apices of the maxillary and mandibular second premolar, first molar, and second molar to the maxillary sinus floor or the mandibular canal were measured perpendicularly to the occlusal plane. The Student t test was used for comparisons between the 2 groups. Results: The greatest mean MSDs were from the root apex of the second premolars in both groups, whereas the least mean MSDs were from the mesiobuccal root apex of the second molars. The greatest mean MCDs were from the mesial root apex of the first molars, whereas the least mean MCDs were from the distal root apex of the second molars. Conclusion: There were no differences in the mean MSDs or the mean MCDs between the skeletal normal bite group and the skeletal open bite group.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.46 no.3
• /
• pp.174-182
• /
• 2020

Objectives: Joint injuries frequently lead to progressive joint degeneration that causes articular disc derangement, joint inflammation, and osteoarthritis. Such arthropathies that arise after trauma are defined as post-traumatic arthritis (PTA). Although PTA is well recognized in knee and elbow joints, PTA in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) has not been clearly defined. Interestingly, patients experiencing head and neck trauma without direct jaw fracture have displayed TMJ disease symptoms; however, definitive diagnosis and treatment options are not available. This study will analyze clinical aspects of PTA in TMJ and their treatment outcomes after joint arthrocentesis and lavage. Materials and Methods: Twenty patients with history of trauma to the head and neck especially without jaw fracture were retrospectively studied. Those patients developed TMJ disease symptoms and were diagnosed by computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. To decrease TMJ discomfort, arthrocentesis and lavage with or without conservative therapy were applied, and efficacy was evaluated by amount of mouth opening and pain scale. Statistical differences between pre- and post-treatment values were evaluated by Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Results: Patient age varied widely between 20 and 80 years, and causes of trauma were diverse. Duration of disease onset was measured as 508 post-trauma days, and 85% of the patients sought clinic visit within 2 years after trauma. In addition, 85% of the patients showed TMJ disc derangement without reduction, and osteoarthritis was accompanied at the traumatized side or at both sides in 40% of the patients. After arthrocentesis or lavage, maximal mouth opening was significantly increased (28-44 mm on average, P<0.001) and pain scale was dramatically decreased (7.8-3.5 of 10, P<0.001); however, concomitant conservative therapy showed no difference in treatment outcome. Conclusion: The results of this study clarify the disease identity of PTA in TMJ and suggest early diagnosis and treatment options to manage PTA in TMJ.

• Restorative Dentistry and Endodontics
• /
• v.42 no.3
• /
• pp.232-239
• /
• 2017

Objectives: The evaluation of iatrogenic dentinal defects in extracted teeth may be influenced by extraction forces and prolonged dry times. The purpose of this study was to compare the presence of dentinal defects in freshly extracted, periodontally compromised teeth with those in a group of teeth with uncontrolled extraction forces and storage time. Materials and Methods: The experimental group consisted of eighteen roots obtained from teeth extracted due to periodontal reasons with class II or III mobility. They were kept in saline and sectioned within 1 hour following extraction. The control group consisted of matched root types obtained from an anonymous tooth collection, consistent with previous dentinal defect studies. The slices were obtained at 3, 6, and 9 mm from the apex. The imaging process exposed all specimens to no more than 60 seconds of dry time. The ${\times}12.8$ magnification was used for the 9 mm slices and ${\times}19.2$ magnification for the 3 mm and 6 mm slices under light-emitting diode (LED) transillumination. The root canal spaces and periodontal tissues were masked to minimize extraneous factors that might influence the evaluators. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Dentinal defects were detected in 17% of the experimental group teeth, compared to 61% of control teeth (p = 0.015). Conclusions: LED transillumination assessment of freshly extracted roots with class II or III mobility showed smaller number of dentinal defects than roots with uncontrolled storage time and extraction forces. The use of freshly extracted roots with mobility should be considered for future dental defect assessment studies.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.51 no.3
• /
• pp.223-235
• /
• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to summarize the impact of neck and head radiation treatment on maxillofacial structures detected on panoramic radiographs. Materials and Methods: In this systematic review, the authors searched PubMed Central, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Web of Science, and Google Scholar for original research studies up to February 2020 that included the following Medical Subject Headings keywords: words related to "radiotherapy" and synonyms combined with keywords related to "panoramic radiography" and "oral diagnosis" and synonyms. Only original studies in English that investigated the maxillofacial effects of radiotherapy via panoramic radiographs were included. The quality of the selected manuscripts was evaluated by assessing the risk of bias using Cochrane's ROBINS-I tool for non-randomized studies. Results: Thirty-three studies were eligible and included in this review. The main objectives pertained to the assessment of the effects of radiation on maxillofacial structures, including bone architecture alterations, periodontal space widening, teeth development abnormalities, osteoradionecrosis, and implant bone loss. The number of participants evaluated ranged from 8 to 176. Conclusion: The interaction between ionizing radiation and maxillofacial structures results in hazard to the tissues involved, particularly the bone tissue, periosteum, connective tissue of the mucosa, and endothelium. Hard tissue changes due to radiation therapy can be detected on panoramic radiographs.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2019

Purpose: This study aimed to introduce a novel method to evaluate the alveolar bone and interdental septum in the anterior mandible using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods: Fifty-six CBCT scans from adult patients were selected. The CBCT scans were obtained before and after orthodontic treatment. The following measurements were taken: width of the alveolar bone and the interdental septum, height of the interdental septum, height of the bone plates, distance between the cementoenamel junction and marginal bone crests, and vertical positioning of the mandibular incisor, using the lingual plane as a reference. To test the reproducibility and the stability of the lingual plane, a triangle was traced in the anterior mandible. The intra-class correlation coefficient(ICC) was used to determine intra- and inter-examiner agreement. The paired Student t-test was used to evaluate the area of the triangle and the reproducibility of all measurements. Results: The ICC was excellent for the alveolar bone and dental measurements (0.9989 and 0.9977, respectively), as well as for the interdental septum (0.9987 and 0.9961, respectively). The area of the triangles showed stability in the lingual plane (P>0.05). For the alveolar bone, mandibular incisor, and interdental septum measurements, no statistically significant differences were found between the 2 examiners(P>0.05), confirming the technical reliability of the measurements. Conclusion: The method used in this study provides a valid and reproducible assessment of alveolar bone dimensions in the anterior mandible measured on CBCT images.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
• /
• v.49 no.1
• /
• pp.27-34
• /
• 2019

Purpose: The prevalence of supernumerary teeth has been reported to be between 0.1% and 3.8%. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence, clinical significance, and associated pathologies of fourth molars based on a retrospective study and a literature review. Materials and Methods: A 5-year retrospective prevalence study was conducted at the Department of Oral Diagnosis and Dentomaxillofacial Radiology of Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan. The study involved extracting data from the digital records of patients from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2017. The sampling frame included all patients who had panoramic radiographs, cone-beam computed tomography (CT), and multislice CT images during the period under review. Results: A total of 26,721 cases were reviewed and 87 fourth molars were identified. The prevalence of fourth molars in the 5-year study at Okayama was calculated as 0.32%. The mean age of patients with a fourth molar was 30.43 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:0.98. The vast majority of cases were in the maxilla (92%) and had normal shapes(89.7%); furthermore, 82.8% of cases were unerupted. Conclusion: The prevalence of fourth molars in the study population was found to be 0.32%, and fourth molars occurred with approximately equal frequency in males and females. Fourth molars were more common in the maxilla and were predominantly unerupted and small.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
• /
• v.62 no.6
• /
• pp.661-670
• /
• 2019

Objective : Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to involve the cervical spine up to 86%. It often causes cervical instability like atlantoaxial subluxation (AAS), subaxial subluxation, and vertical subluxation (VS). In order to find the relation between RA and cord compression, we will evaluate the characteristics and risk factors of basilar invagination (BI) and cervicomedullary junction (CMJ) compression. Methods : From January 2007 to May 2015, 12667 patients administrated to Hanyang University Medical Center. Four thousand three hundred eighty-six patients took cervical X-ray and 250 patients took cervical computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. Radiologic parameters, medication records were obtained from 242 patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed with correlation of CMJ compression, basin-dental interval (BDI), basin-posterior axial line interval (BAI), pannus formation, BI, and AAS. Results : In the point of CMJ compression, atlantodental interval (ADI), posterior-atlantodental interval, BAI, AAS, and BI are relatively highly correlated. Patients with BI have 82 times strong possibility of radiologic confirmed CMJ compression, while AAS has 6-fold and pannus formation has the 3-fold possibility. Compared to the low incidence of BI, AAS and pannus formation have more proportion in CMJ compression. Furthermore, wrist joint erosion was correlated with VS and AAS. Conclusion : BI has a very strong possibility of CMJ compression, while AAS and pannus formation have a high proportion in CMJ compression. Hence bilateral wrist joint erosion can be used as an indicator for the timing of screening test for cervical involvement. We suggest the early recommendation of cervical spine examination for the diagnosis of cervical involvement in order to prevent morbidity and mortality.