Artifacts in orthodontic bracket systems in cone-beam computed tomography and multislice computed tomography

Area of Science:

• Dental Imaging
• Radiology
• Biomaterials

Background:

• Orthodontic treatment often requires dental imaging for diagnosis and monitoring.
• Computed tomography (CT) offers detailed cross-sectional views, with cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) being common modalities.
• Artifacts in CT scans can degrade image quality, potentially affecting diagnostic accuracy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify and compare imaging artifacts produced by different orthodontic bracket systems.
• To evaluate artifact generation across both cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and multislice computed tomography (MSCT) technologies.

Main Methods:

• Four orthodontic bracket systems were attached to a human cadaver mandible.
• Scans were performed using one MSCT and three CBCT units, alongside a reference scan.
• Artifacts were quantified by analyzing image quality reductions (standard deviation percentages) in registered datasets.

Main Results:

• Multislice computed tomography (MSCT) generally produced higher artifact percentages than cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) units.
• Specific CBCT units occasionally showed higher artifacts than the MSCT system.
• Titanium brackets exhibited significant differences in artifact intensity between MSCT and CBCT, with higher artifacts on MSCT.

Conclusions:

• Artifact intensity varies based on bracket material composition and the specific CT scanner technology (MSCT or CBCT).
• While artifact manifestation differs, their impact on image quality was comparable across systems.
• The study does not support a universal recommendation for or against MSCT or CBCT due to variable artifact severity.