• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 2012

Purpose : This study was performed to evaluate possible variations in maxillary and mandibular bone texture of normal population using the fractal analysis, particles count, and area fraction in intraoral radiographs. Materials and Methods : Periapical radiographs of patients who had full mouth intraoral radiographs were collected. Regions of interest ($100{\times}100$ pixels) were located between the teeth of the maxillary anterior, premolar, and molar area, as well as the mandibular anterior, premolar, and molar areas. The fractal dimension (FD) was calculated by using the box counting method. The particle count (PC) and area fraction (AF) analyses were also performed. Results : There was no significant difference in the FD values among the different groups of age, gender, upper, and lower jaws. The mean FD value was $1.49{\pm}0.01$. The mean PC ranged from 44 to 54, and the mean AF ranged from 10.92 to 11.85. The values of FD, PC, and AF were significantly correlated with each other except for the upper molar area. Conclusion : According to the results, patients with normal trabecular pattern showed a FD of approximately 1.5. Based on these results, further investigation would be recommended if the FD value of patient significantly differenct from this number, since the alteration of this value indicates microstructural modification of trabecular pattern of the jaws. Additionally, with periapical radiographs, simple and cost-effective, PC and AF could be used to assess the deviation from the normal.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.175-178
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• 2004

Purpose: Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) is difficult to implement in the best of situations, but evidence is growing that the benefits are significant. The aims of this study are to analyze the current status of full PACS and establish successful installation standard of dental PACS. Materials and Methods : Materials and methods were based on the investigation of current working status and installation standard of PACS, and observation of variable issues to installation of dental PACS. Results: By September 30,2004, full PACS implementations in their facilities were 88.1 % in specialized general hospitals (37 installations out of total 42 hospitals), 59.8% in general hospitals (144 installations out of total 241 hospitals), 12.3% in medical hospitals (116 installations out of total 941 hospitals) and 3.6% in dental hospitals (4 installations out of total 11 0 hospitals) Only 4 university dental hospitals currently have installed and are operating full PACS. Major obstacle to wide spread of dental PACS is initial high investments. Conclusions: Clinical environments of dental PACS differed from medical situation. Because of characteristic dental practice, the initial investments for dental PACS are generally much greater than those of medical PACS. Also new economic crisis makes users scruple. The best way to overcome these limitations is to establish an economic installation standard for dental PACS. Also the clear technical communication between the customer and the supplier before both sides are committed to the obstacles are critical to its success.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.55-61
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• 2017

There are no recommended test conditions for digital photography in Chest PA examinations. However, each company recommends shooting examinations of the high voltage applied to the previous analog examination. The condition that satisfies the value of 200 ~ 800 which is the recommended Exposure Index value recommended by Philips was selected, and the dose was evaluated by Monte Carlo simulation, and the SNR and CNR were compared. As a result, it was possible to reduce the effective dose up to 77% by controlling the tube voltage, tube current, and additional filter, not the conventional high voltage imaging method. Although there were some differences according to the test conditions, the image evaluation results were similar to the images. We will compare the exposure dose according to changes in tube voltage, tube current, and additional filter at the digital chest radiograph and evaluate the image quality of the image to propose optimal conditions.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.35-43
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• 2007

Purpose : To observe direct effect of irradiation on cariogenic Streptooccus mutans. Materials and Methods : S. mutans GS5 was exposed to irradiation with a single absorbed dose of 10, 20, 30, and 40Gy. Viability and changes in antibiotic sensitivity, morphology, transcription of virulence factors, and protein profile of bacterium after irradiation were examined by pour plate, disc diffusion method, transmission electron microscopy, RT-PCR, and SDS-PAGE, respectively. Results : After irradiation with 10 and 20Gy, viability of S. mutans was reduced. Further increase in irradiation dose, however, did not affect the viability of the remaining cells of S. mutans. Irradiated 5. mutans was found to have become sensitive to antibiotics. In particular, the bacterium irradiated with 40Gy increased its susceptibility to cefotaxime, penicillin, and tetracycline. Under the transmission electron microscope, number of morphologically abnormal cells was increased as the irradiation dose was increased. S. mutans irradiated with 10 Gy revealed a change in the cell wall and cell membrane. As irradiation dose was increased, a higher number of cells showed thickened cell wall and cell membrane and Iysis, and appearance of ghost cells was noticeable. In RT-PCR, no difference was detected in expression of gtfB and spap between cells with and without irradiation of 40Gy. In SDS-PAGE, proteins with higher molecular masses were gradually diminished as irradiation dose was increased. Conclusion : These results suggest that irradiation affects the cell Integrity of S. mutans, as observed by SDS-PAGE, and as manifested by the change in cell morphology, antibiotic sensitivity, and eventually viability of the bacterium.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 2008

Purpose: The aim of this study was to observe a direct effect of irradiation on the periodontopathic Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis). Materials and Methods: P. gingivalis 2561 was exposed to irradiation with a single absorbed dose of 10, 20, 30, and 40Gy. Changes in viability and antibiotic sensitivity, morphology, transcription, and protein profile of the bacterium after irradiation were examined by pour plating method, disc diffusion method, transmission electron microscopy, RT-PCR, and immunoblot, respectively. Results: Viability of irradiated P. gingivalis drastically reduced as irradiation dose was increased. Irradiated P. gingivalis was found to have become more sensitive to antibiotics as radiation dose was increased. With observation under the transmission electron microscope, the number of morphologically abnormal cells was increased with increasing of irradiation dose. In RT-PCR, decrease in the expression of fimA and sod was observed in irradiated P. gingivalis. In immunoblot, change of profile in irradiated P. gingivalis was found in a number of proteins including 43-kDa fimbrillin. Conclusion: These results suggest that irradiation may affect the cell integrity of P. gingivalis, which is manifested by the change in cell morphology and antibiotic sensitivity, affecting viability of the bacterium.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.273-281
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the general anatomy and morphology of the nasopalatine canal using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to determine the human anatomic variability of the nasopalatine canal in relation to age and gender. Materials and Methods: The study included 100 subjects aged between 20 and 86 years who were divided into the following 3 groups: 1) 20-34 years old; 2) 35-49 years old; 3) ${\geq}50$ years old. The subjects were equally distributed between the genders. CBCT was performed using a standard exposure and patient positioning protocol. The data of the CBCT images were sliced in three dimensions. Image planes on the three axes (X, Y, and Z) were sequentially analyzed for the location, morphology and dimensions of the nasopalatine canal by two independent observers. The correlation of age and gender with all the variables was evaluated. Results: The present study did not reveal statistically significant differences in the number of openings at the nasal fossa; diameter of the nasal fossa openings; diameter of the incisive fossa; shape, curvature, and angulation of the canal as viewed in the sagittal sections; antero-posterior dimensions and length of the canal in the sagittal sections; or the level of division of the canal in the coronal plane by age. However, males and females showed significant differences in the length of the canal in the sagittal sections and level of the division of the canal in the coronal plane. Conclusion: The present study highlighted important variability observed in the anatomy and morphology of the nasopalatine canal.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.171-178
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• 2010

Purpose : The purpose of this study is to develop a surgical stent for dental implant procedure that can be easily applied and affordable by using cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT). Materials and Methods : Aluminum, Teflon-PFA (perfluoroalkoxy), and acetal (polyoxymethylene plastic) were selected as materials for the surgical stent. Among these three materials, the appropriate material was chosen using the CBCT images. The surgical stent, which could be easily placed into an oral cavity, was designed with chosen material. CBCT images of the new surgical stent on mandible were obtained using Alphard-3030 dental CT system (Asahi Roentgen Co., Ltd., Kyoto, Japan). The point of insertion was prescribed on the surgical stent with the multiplanar reconstruction software of OnDemand3D (CyberMed Inc., Seoul, Korea). Guide holes were made at the point of insertion on the surgical stent using newly designed guide jig. CBCT scans was taken for the second time to verify the accuracy of the newly designed surgical stent. Results : Teflon-PFA showed radiologically excellent image characteristics for the surgical stent. High accuracy and reproducibility of implantation were confirmed with the surgical stent. Conclusion : The newly designed surgical stent can lead to the accurate implantation and achieve the clinically predictable result.

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.121-125
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• 2018

Purpose: Detecting laryngeal cartilages (triticeous and thyroid cartilages) on panoramic radiographs is important because they may be confused with carotid artery calcifications in the bifurcation region, which are a risk factor for stroke. This study assessed the efficiency of panoramic radiography in the diagnosis of calcified laryngeal cartilages using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) as the reference standard. Materials and Methods: A total of 312 regions(142 bilateral, 10 left, 18 right) in 170 patients(140 males, 30 females) were examined. Panoramic radiographs were examined by an oral and maxillofacial radiologist with 11 years of experience. CBCT scans were reviewed by 2 other oral and maxillofacial radiologists. The kappa coefficient(${\kappa}$) was calculated to determine the level of intra-observer agreement and to determine the level of agreement between the 2 methods. Diagnostic indicators(sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and false positive and false negative rates) were also calculated. P values <.05 were considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: Eighty-two images were re-examined to determine the intra-observer agreement level, and the kappa coefficient was calculated as 0.709 (P<.05). Statistically significant and acceptable agreement was found between the panoramic and CBCT images (${\kappa}=0.684$ and P<.05). The sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy rate, the false positive rate, and the false negative rate of the panoramic radiographs were 85.4%, 83.5%, 84.6%, 16.5%, and 14.6%, respectively. Conclusion: In most cases, calcified laryngeal cartilages could be diagnosed on panoramic radiographs. However, due to variation in the calcifications, diagnosis may be difficult.

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

• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.87-92
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• 2007

Purpose: To measure the absorbed doses of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), which is recently being more frequently used, and to compare them with those of panoramic radiography. Materials and Methods: To measure the absorbed doses of CBCT ($PSR-9000N^{TM}$, Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Japan), we placed TLD chips on the skin regions above the parotid and thyroid glands, and on the dorsum of tongue in a dental head phantom. We used two image acquisition modes of the Dental and Panoramic modes of CBCT, which differed in the field of view. Also, panoramic radiographs (Auto IIIN, Asahi Roentgen Ind. Co., Japan) were taken to compare with the absorbed doses of CBCT. Result: In the Dental mode of CBCT, the absorbed doses of the parotid gland, dorsum of tongue, and thyroid gland were 3.53, 3.13, and 0.36 mGy, respectively. In the Panoramic mode of CBCT, they were 9.57, 9.15, and 0.85 mGy, respectively. The panoramic mode showed higher absorbed doses than those of the Dental mode. In the panoramic radiography, the absorbed doses of the parotid gland, dorsum of tongue, and thyroid gland were 1.21, 1.19, and 0.16 mGy, respectively. And they were about 1/3 of the Dental mode and 1/9 of the Panoramic mode of CBCT. Conclusion: Absorbed doses of CBCT are higher than those of panoramic radiography, and dependent upon the field of view.