Vestibular Alveolar bone height measurement: Accuracy and Correlation between direct and indirect techniques

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Radiology
• Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Background:

• Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) offers 3D dental imaging with a 1:1 patient:image ratio, influencing diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Concerns exist regarding the accuracy of CBCT in evaluating thin structures like cortical bone.

Purpose of the Study:

• To correlate direct measurements of vestibular alveolar bone height with those obtained from standard resolution Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) images.
• To assess the accuracy of CBCT in measuring vestibular alveolar bone height.

Main Methods:

• Thirty incisor and premolar teeth from patients undergoing open curettage were measured directly using a high-precision caliper.
• CBCT imaging was performed using a 3D Orthophos XG Sirona scanner with a standard resolution of 0.16 mm voxels.
• Intra-observer reliability was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and measurements were correlated using Pearson correlation (PCC).

Main Results:

• A mean difference of 3.15 mm was observed between direct and CBCT measurements.
• Paired t-test and Pearson Correlation coefficient indicated statistically significant differences (p<0.05) between all measurement types.
• CBCT measurements showed significant deviation from direct measurements.

Conclusions:

• The specific CBCT scanner and protocol used in this study do not provide accurate evaluations of vestibular alveolar bone height.
• For precise assessment of vestibular alveolar bone height, direct measurement methods are recommended over the evaluated CBCT technique.
• Further research may be needed to explore optimal CBCT protocols for accurate bone height evaluation.