A novel method of objectively detecting tooth ankylosis using cone-beam computed tomography: A laboratory study

Area of Science:

• Dentistry
• Radiology
• Biomedical Imaging

Background:

• Tooth ankylosis, a condition where the tooth root fuses with the alveolar bone, can complicate orthodontic treatment and tooth replacement.
• Accurate detection of tooth ankylosis is crucial for appropriate clinical management.
• Current diagnostic methods may have limitations in objectively identifying ankylosis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a novel method for the objective detection of simulated tooth ankylosis.
• To assess the efficacy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in identifying ankylosis.
• To evaluate the impact of image parameters on the detection accuracy.

Main Methods:

• Simulated tooth ankylosis in human teeth using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).
• Acquisition of CBCT scans at varying current levels (mA) and voxel sizes.
• Analysis of periodontal ligament space using grey values and graphical profiles.
• Application of contrast enhancement to assess its effect on detection.

Main Results:

• A significantly higher parabolic internal area was observed in non-ankylosed regions compared to ankylosed regions.
• Contrast enhancement significantly increased the parabolic internal area of non-ankylosed regions, improving detectability.
• Voxel size and mA levels did not significantly impact the results.

Conclusions:

• The novel CBCT-based method demonstrates significant applicability for detecting simulated tooth ankylosis.
• Image contrast enhancement is a key factor in improving the detectability of tooth ankylosis.
• This technique offers a potentially valuable tool for objective diagnosis in dentistry.