• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.209-214
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• 2001

Purpose: To investigate the ability of double TMJ view by multifunctional panorama to view the bony components and the space of the temporomandibular joint. Materials and Methods: Ten dry skulls fitted with resin shims over the articular surface of the condyle were used to reproduce the temporomandibular joint space. Fine metal wires were attached to the three portions of contours of the condylar head and the articular eminence. With 10 dry skulls and 20 cases having TMJ dysfunction, double TMJ views by multifunctional panorama (Planmeca 2002 Proline CC) and transcranial views were taken, analyzed from the anatomical view point, and compared statistically in view of the widths of the posterior joint space and the condylar head. Results: In double TMJ view, the supero-anterior part of the condyle represented the lateral 1/3, the most superior part represented center portion, and the posterior part medial l/3 of the condyle. In maximum mouth opening, no other structures were superimposed with the condyle in double TMJ view. In double TMJ view, petrous bone was moderately superimposed with the superior part of the condyle and the posterior increment of angle exposure made wider the images of the articular eminence and the condyle. The tendency of reduction in the posterior joint space appeared in the side of TMJ dysfunction compared with the normal side. The posterior joint spaces in double TMJ view were statistically wider (p<0.05) than those in transcranial view. The correlation coefficient was 0.5179 between the widths of the posterior joint spaces in two radiographic views. Conclusions: Double TMJ view can be substituted for transcranial view in evaluating the TMJ dysfunction.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제43권3호
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• pp.153-161
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• 2013

Purpose: To prevent low bone mineral density (BMD), that is, osteoporosis, in postmenopausal women, it is essential to diagnose osteoporosis more precisely. This study presented an automatic approach utilizing a histogram-based automatic clustering (HAC) algorithm with a support vector machine (SVM) to analyse dental panoramic radiographs (DPRs) and thus improve diagnostic accuracy by identifying postmenopausal women with low BMD or osteoporosis. Materials and Methods: We integrated our newly-proposed histogram-based automatic clustering (HAC) algorithm with our previously-designed computer-aided diagnosis system. The extracted moment-based features (mean, variance, skewness, and kurtosis) of the mandibular cortical width for the radial basis function (RBF) SVM classifier were employed. We also compared the diagnostic efficacy of the SVM model with the back propagation (BP) neural network model. In this study, DPRs and BMD measurements of 100 postmenopausal women patients (aged >50 years), with no previous record of osteoporosis, were randomly selected for inclusion. Results: The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of the BMD measurements using our HAC-SVM model to identify women with low BMD were 93.0% (88.0%-98.0%), 95.8% (91.9%-99.7%) and 86.6% (79.9%-93.3%), respectively, at the lumbar spine; and 89.0% (82.9%-95.1%), 96.0% (92.2%-99.8%) and 84.0% (76.8%-91.2%), respectively, at the femoral neck. Conclusion: Our experimental results predict that the proposed HAC-SVM model combination applied on DPRs could be useful to assist dentists in early diagnosis and help to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with low BMD and osteoporosis.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제37권5호
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• pp.365-374
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• 2011

Introduction: Research on dental bone graft material has been actively conducted. Recently, demineralized dentin matrix material has been developed and introduced. This study examined the effect of demineralized dentin matrix material on bone healing. Subjects and Methods: The patients who received no treatment after extraction were used as the control group and patients who underwent demineralized dentin matrix material application in the extraction socket after extraction were used as the experimental group. Panorama radiography was performed at the baseline and at 3.5 months after graft material placement and CT was taken at 3.5 months after graft material placement for a radiologic evaluation. Bony tissue specimens were collected from the alveolar crest in the middle of the extraction socket using a 2 mm trephine bur after 3.5 months for the histology and hostomorphometric study. Results: 1. On the panoramic view, a higher bone density was observed in the subject group. 2. On the panoramic view, the bone density increased significantly in the extraction socket, from the baseline to 3.5 months: a 7 and 10 gray-level scale was observed in the control and experimental group, respectively (P<0.05). 3. The CT view evaluation at 3.5 months revealed significantly higher bone density in the subject group than the control group (P<0.05). 4. The histological findings showed more active new bone and lamellar bone formation in the subject group. Dentin with osteoinduction ability and enamel with osteoconduction ability appeared. 5. On histomorphometric analysis, the subject group showed significantly more new bone, lamellar bone area and lower soft tissue area (P<0.05). The difference between the groups was significant (P<0.05). Conclusion: Bone healing was improved after the application of demineralized dentin matrix material and there was active new bone and lamellar bone formation.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.7-15
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• 2008

Purpose: This study provides comparative measurements of absorbed and effective doses for newly developed cone beam computed tomography (CT) in comparison with these doses for conventional CT. Materials and Methods: Thermoluminescent dosimeter rods (TLD rod: GR-200, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA) were placed at 25 sites throughout the layers of Male ART Head and Neck Phantom (Radiology Support Devices Inc., Long Beach, USA) for dosimetry. Implagraphy, DCT Pro (Vatech Co., Hwasung, Korea) units, SCT-6800TXL (Shimadzu Corp., Kyoto, Japan), and Crane x 3+(Soredex Orion Corp., Helsinki, Finland) were used for radiation exposures. Absorption doses were measured with Harshaw 3500TLD reader (Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Waltham, MA, USA). Radiation weighted doses and effective doses were measured and calculated by 2005 ICRP tissue weighting factors. Results: Absorbed doses in Rt. submandibular gland were 110.57 mGy for SCT 6800TXL (Implant), 24.56 mGy for SCT 6800TXL (3D), 22.39 mGy for Implagraphy 3, 7.19 mGy for DCT Pro, 5.96 mGy for Implagraphy 1, 0.70 mGy for Cranex 3+. Effective doses $(E_{2005draft)$ were 2.551 mSv for SCT 6800TXL (Implant), 1.272 mSv for SCT 6800TXL (3D), 0.598 mSv for Implagraphy 3, 0.428 mSv for DCT Pro and 0.146 mSv for Implagraphy 1. These are 108.6, 54.1, 25.5, 18.2 and 6.2 times greater than panoramic examination (Cranex 3+) doses (0.023mSv). Conclusion: Cone beam CT machines recently developed in Korea, showed lower effective doses than conventional CT. Cone beam CT provides a lower dose and cost alternative to conventional CT, promising to revolutionize the practice of oral and maxillofacial radiology.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.219-225
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• 2013

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of missing and impacted third molars in people aged 25 years and above. Materials and Methods: The study sample of 3,799 patients was chosen randomly from patients who visited Pusan National University Dental Hospital and had panoramic radiographs taken. The data collected included presence and impaction state, angulation, and depth of impaction of third molars, and radiographically detected lesions of third molars and adjacent second molars. Results: A greater percentage of men than women retained at least one third molar. The incidence of third molars decreased with increasing age. The incidence of partially impacted third molars greatly declined after the age of 30. Vertically impacted maxillary third molars and horizontally impacted mandibular third molars were most frequent in all age groups. Among the maxillary third molars, those impacted below the cervical line of the second molar were most frequent in all age groups, and among the mandibular third molars, deeply impacted third molars were most frequent in those aged over 40. Dental caries was the most common radiographic lesion of the third molars. Mesioangularly impacted third molars showed radiographic lesions in 13 (9.5%) adjacent maxillary second molars and 117 (27.4%) mandibular second molars. Conclusion: The number of remaining third molars decreased and the percentage of Class C depth increased with age. Caries was the most frequent lesion in third molars. Partially impacted mesioangular third molars showed a high incidence of caries or periodontal bone loss of the adjacent second molar. Regular oral examination will be essential to keep asymptomatic third molars in good health.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제43권4호
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• pp.283-287
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pneumatized articular tubercle or eminence among a defined group of Iranian people. Materials and Methods: Digital panoramic radiographs of 1694 patients in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Hamadan Dental School, Iran were evaluated retrospectively to detect the above lesion. Finally, 1563 radiographs were selected according to inclusion criteria. Then, a review was done of 10 large case series found using a MEDLINE search of the literature. Chi-squared test was used to analyze the differences in variables such as age, gender, laterality, and locularity in our case series. Results: The average age of our samples was $32.6{\pm}7.63$ years. Pneumatized articular tubercle was found in 98 cases, representing a prevalence of 6.2% with a mean age of $22.8{\pm}7.9$ and a range of 8 to 60 years. Sixty-four (65.3%) pneumatized articular tubercles were unilateral, with 30 lesions on the right and 34 on the left side. Bilateral lesions were found in 34 (34.7%) patients. 52 (53.06%) of the pneumatized articular tubercles were of the unilocular type and 46 (46.94%) were multilocular. The results showed no statistically significant differences regarding age (p=0.454), gender (p=0.634), laterality (p=0.252), or locularity (p=0.807) among the samples. Conclusion: Among ten large case series from other countries, the prevalence of pneumatized articular tubercle (6.2%) in Iranian patients was higher than that of all eight of the case series that used the same detection method as the present study of panoramic radiography.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제42권3호
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• pp.129-137
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• 2012

Purpose: To compare different radiographic methods for assessing endodontically treated teeth. Materials and Methods: Root canal treatments were applied in 120 extracted mandibular teeth, which were divided into four groups: (1) ideal root canal treatment (60 teeth), (2) insufficient lateral condensation (20 teeth), (3) root canals filled short of the apex (20 teeth), (4) overfilled root canal treatment (20 teeth). The teeth were imaged using intraoral film, panoramic film, digital intraoral systems (CCD and PSP), CCD obtained with portable X-ray source, digital panoramic, and CBCT images obtained at 0.3 $mm^3$ and 0.2 $mm^3$ voxel size. Images were evaluated separately by three observers, twice. Kappa coefficients were calculated. The percentage of correct readings obtained from each modality was calculated and compared using a t-test (p<0.05). Results: The intra-observer kappa for each observer ranged between 0.327 and 0.849. The inter-observer kappa for each observer for both readings ranged between 0.312 and 0.749. For the ideal root canal treatment group, CBCT with 0.2 $mm^3$ voxel images revealed the best results. For insufficient lateral condensation, the best readings were found with periapical film followed by CCD and PSP. The assessment of teeth with root canals filled short of the apex showed the highest percentage of correct readings by CBCT and CCD. For the overfilled canal treatment group, PSP images and conventional periapical film radiographs had the best scores. Conclusion: CBCT was found to be successful in the assessment of teeth with ideal root canal treatment and teeth with canals filled short of the apex.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제40권4호
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• pp.159-163
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• 2010

Purpose : This retrospective study was performed to investigate the prevalence of the idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO) in Korean malocclusion patients according to age, sex, and the Angle's classification of malocclusion. Materials and Methods : This study consisted of 2,001 randomly selected patients from the Department of Orthodontics at the Gangneung-Wonju National University Dental Hospital, Korea. The prevalence of IO in Korean malocclusion patients was recorded using their panoramic radiographs, and the following parameters were surveyed; age, sex, and the Angle's classification of malocclusion. The chi-square test was analyzed to determine the statistical significance of differences in the prevalence of IO between age, sex, and the Angle's classification of malocclusion. Results : The prevalence of IO in the jaws was 6.7% in a total of 2,001 examined orthodontic patients. The majority of IO was found in the mandible (96.58%). The 30-39 age group showed the highest prevalence of IO (9.60%). There was a higher prevalence in females (6.89%) than in males (6.45%). The prevalence of IO in Angle Class I group (7.07%) was the most frequent, followed by Angle Class II group (6.72%), and Angle Class III group (6.40%). However, there was no statistical significance in sex and Angle's classification of malocclusion. Conclusion : The prevalence of IO in malocclusion patients showed the differences between various age groups and most of them were found in the mandibular posterior area. However, sex and the type of malocclusion are not to be considered as a contributing factor of IO.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2013

Purpose: This study investigated the possible correlation between the mineralization of the second molars and the chronological age of a sample population of the state of Paraiba, Brazil. Materials and Methods: One thousand eight hundred fifty-four digitized panoramic images using a scanner of a private dental radiology service were obtained in six months. Of these, 457 were selected from patients aged 4.6 to 16 years who met certain criteria. The images were assessed twice by a radiologist with 5 years experience. A minimum interval of 30 days between the evaluations of the same patient was established. To analyze the relationship between chronological age, calcification level proposed by Demirjian et al in 1973, gender, and tooth, a multiple linear regression model was adjusted, taking age as the response variable (p<0.05). Results: The gender and calcification level were significantly correlated with the age of the patients (p<0.05). There was a significant difference between the average age of the patients' upper teeth compared to the lower ones in both genders (p<0.05). The dental development occurred earlier in female individuals than in male ones, and there was no significant difference between the right and left second permanent molars. Conclusion: It was observed that ethnic variables are related to certain parameters of age and sex identification in the Brazilian population, providing important information for forensic evaluations.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제41권1호
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• pp.30-33
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• 2016

Malignant tumors located in the head and neck areas intermittently show symptoms similar to a temporomandibular disorder (TMD). In our case, a patient who first visited us complaining of TMD-like symptoms, such as trismus and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain on the left side, was identified as a sufferer of adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) that arose from the left maxillary sinus. The patient may have a TMD symptom, but we are skeptical because the patient also complained of a spontaneously developed numbness on the same side of his upper lip. We observed the panoramic radiograph closely and found the blurred maxillary sinus inferior wall. Dental cone-beam computed tomography confirmed the tentative diagnosis of malignancy on the maxillary sinus. After he had been referred to the Department of Otolaryngology, the diagnosis of the ACC was confirmed. Adequate diagnosis is vital for a quick treatment of the malignancy. There are some keys for differential diagnosis of TMD-like symptoms.