Anat Cell Biol.  2023 Jun;56(2):185-190. 10.5115/acb.22.247.

Accuracy verification of dental cone-beam computed tomography of mandibular incisor root canals and assessment of its morphology and aging-related changes

• Aoki K
• Serikawa M
• Harada T
• Usami A

• KMID: 2544079
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.22.247

Abstract

The root canal morphology undergoes aging-related changes, and relevant quantitative analyses have not yet been reported. We compared the cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and micro-computed tomography (microCT) scans of extracted mandibular incisors to check the accuracy of morphological measurements. Thereafter, the root canal morphology and aging-related changes in the mandibular incisors of Japanese individuals were assessed using CBCT. Six extracted teeth were fixed in a phantom head and imaged using CBCT and micro-CT. The correlation between the findings of the two imaging modalities was examined. Further, CBCT reconstructed images of the mandibular incisors of 81 individuals were observed. Age-related changes of the root canals were compared between participants aged <30 years and those aged ≥30 years. The CBCT and micro-CT findings regarding the root canals of the extracted teeth coincided in 94.4% of the cases. Mandibular incisors exhibiting two root canals in either cross-section accounted for 9.9% of central incisors and 12.4% of lateral incisors. Mandibular central incisors with two root canals were observed in two (6.3%) individuals aged <30 years and six (12.2%) aged ≥30 years. Mandibular lateral incisors with two root canals were observed in one (3.1%) individual aged <30 years and nine (18.4%) aged ≥30 years. CBCT allows accurate evaluation of complex root canal morphologies and is useful for endodontic preoperative assessment. Mandibular incisors have more frequent occurrence of two root canals with aging.

Keyword

Aging; Cone-beam computed tomography; Incisors; X-ray microtomography; Accuracy verification

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Tooth extraction specifications for the dental head phantom. The maxillary/mandibular incisor, maxillary premolar, and maxillary molar models are removable, allowing fixation of the extracted teeth.

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  Fig. 2 The observed slice images of the discordant evaluation. (A) Micro-CT images, (B) CBCT images. CT, computed tomography; CBCT, cone beam computed tomography.

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  Fig. 3 Incidence of root canal morphology by age (<30 and ≥30 years old) mandibular central incisors (A) and mandibular lateral incisors (B).

Reference

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