The measurement of molar furcation defect fill using digital computer technology--report on a new technique

Recent advances in digital imaging technology have opened up new horizons for dental researchers. This study demonstrates the efficacy of a new technique for measuring regeneration in surgically created molar furcal defects. The investigators evaluated histologic material from a recently completed animal study using five adult baboons. In the animal study, surgically created molar furcation defects were treated using the principles of guided tissue regeneration. From the histologic data of one animal a computer calculated the volume of new bone, connective tissue, epithelium, and cementum as a percentage of the original defect size. The results of this study indicated that digital imaging technology is a useful research tool for determining the volume of defect fill in surgically treated Grade II molar furcation defects in the baboon animal model.