Micro-computed tomography (CT) outperformed four other imaging modalities in measuring occlusal caries depth, according to a new study in the Journal of Digital Imaging (November 30, 2010).
Researchers from Ankara University in Turkey imaged 21 human mandibular molar teeth with occlusal caries using conventional film, a CCD intraoral system, two different cone-beam CT systems, and a micro-CT system. Each tooth was then serially sectioned, and the section with the deepest carious lesion was scanned using a high-resolution scanner.
Each image set was separately viewed by three oral radiologists. Images were viewed randomly, and each set was viewed twice. Lesion depth was measured on film images using a digital caliper, on CCD and CBCT images using built-in measurement tools, and on micro-CT images using the Mimics software program.
Micro-CT was found to be the best imaging method for the ex vivo measurement of occlusal caries depth, the researchers concluded. In addition, both cone-beam CT units performed similarly and better than the intraoral modalities.
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