Reliability of volumetric imaging software for cone-beam computed tomogram scans in the anterior maxilla

This study aimed to compare buccal bone thickness in the maxillary anterior region provided by cone-beam computed tomography scans of cadaveric specimens using 2 different volumetric imaging software.

Cone-beam computed tomography scans of the maxilla of 15 cadaver heads were obtained from a database at the School of Dentistry, University of Michigan. Buccal bone thickness of the right and left maxillary canines and lateral and central incisors was measured at 2.0 mm below the crestal bone margin using 2 different volumetric software.

A tooth-by-tooth comparison revealed strong correlation between measurements from the 2 software for the right canine (r = 0.859), lateral incisor (r = 0.817), and left lateral incisor (r = 0.933). When comparing tooth groups, there was a moderate correlation for central incisors (r = 0.635) and a strong correlation for canines (r = 0.820) and lateral incisors (r = 0.863). Measurements from both software were strongly correlated (r = 0.807) with 95.56% of the measurements in agreement.

Measurements from 2 different volumetric imaging software were in agreement and either software can be used in analyzing soft and hard tissue volumes.