Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 17, 2025

Author Spotlight: Advancing CBCT and Digital Dental Image Integration with AI-Assisted Digitization
Published on: February 23, 2024
[Accuracy of cone beam computed tomography in assessing maxillary molar furcation involvement]
Hai-Yan Zhao1, Nan Wang1, Yi Ding2
1Dept. of Stomatology, Affiliated Hospital of Jining Medical University, Jining 272100, China.
Objective:
This study aimed to assess the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting furcation involvement (FI) in maxillary molars.
Methods:
Thirty-one maxillary molars of 15 patients with generalized chronic periodontitis considered for furcation surgery were assessed. Clinical examination and CBCT were performed, and the FI degree was evaluated. Clinical and CBCT-based FI assessments were compared with intrasurgical data.
Results:
The agreement between clinical and intrasurgical assessments was weak in all sites, with a kappa of less than 0.4; the complete, overestimated, and underestimated agreement percentages were 42.0%, 24.7%, and 33.3%, respectively. The agreement between the CBCT and intrasurgical assessments was strong, with a ka ppa of 0.831; the complete, overestimated, and underestimated agreement percentages were 88.2%, 3.2%, and 8.6%, respectively. The agreement between both assessments was the highest in the buccal furcation entrance (κ=0.896), followed by that in the distopalatal (κ=0.822) and mesiopalatal (κ=0.767) furcation entrances.
Conclusions:
CBCT images demonstrated high accuracy in assessing the horizontal bone loss of FI in maxillary molars.

