Cone-beam Computed Tomography And Periapical Radiograph Limitations In The Diagnosis Of Endodontic Complications: A Report Of Clinical Cases

Although intraoral radiography is the most commonly used method to assist diagnosis and planning in endodontics treatment, it may mislead the clinician into false positive results. Recently, these situations could be minimized with the use of Cone- Beam Computed Tomography, which generates tridimensional images. This study aims to compare tomography images and conventional radiographs in 4 clinical cases. All of the reported cases demonstrated superiority of the tomography concerning image accuracy and clarity and higher level of confidence in the clinician's decision when compared to conventional radiography. Based on the results of this study it is possible to state that, despite their widespread use, intraoral periapical radiographs present serious limitations, particularly due to their bidimensional nature. Therefore, Cone-Beam Computed Tomography may be an important resource to assist the correct planning and treatment of patients, providing greater level of confidence in the execution of endodontic treatments. © Nova Science Publishers, Inc.63227235Estrela, C., Bueno, M.R., Leles, C.R., Azevedo, B., Azevedo, J.R., Accuracy of cone beam computed tomography and panoramic and periapical radiography for detection of apical periodontitis (2008) J. Endod, 34 (3), pp. 273-279Kamburoǧlu, K., Murat, S., Yüksel, S.P., Cebeci, A.R., Horasan, S., Detection of vertical root fracture using cone-beam computerized tomography: An in vitro assessment (2010) Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod., 109 (2), pp. e74-e81Parks, E.T., Computed tomography applications for dentistry (2000) Dent. Clin. North Am, 44 (2), pp. 371-394Scarfe, W.C., Czerniejewski, V.J., Farman, A.G., Avant, S.L., Molteni, R., In vivo accuracy and reliability of color-coded image enhancements for the assessment of periradicular lesion dimensions (1999) Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod, 88 (5), pp. 603-611Danforth, R.A., Cone beam volume tomography: A new digital imaging option for dentistry (2003) J. Calif. Dent. Assoc, 31 (11), pp. 814-815Lofthag-Hansen, S., Huumonen, S., Gröndahl, K., Gröndahl, H.G., Limited cone-beam CT and intraoral radiography for the diagnosis of periapical pathology (2007) Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod, 103 (1), pp. 114-119Soǧur, E., Baksi, B.G., Gröndahl, H.G., Imaging of root canal fillings: A comparison of subjective image quality between limited conebeam CT, storage phosphor and film radiography (2007) Int. Endod. J, 40 (3), pp. 179-185Laux, M., Abbott, P.V., Pajarola, G., Nair, P.N., Apical inflammatory root resorption: A correlative radiographic and histological assessment (2000) Int. Endod J., 33 (6), pp. 483-493Bernardes, R.A., de Moraes, I.G., Húngaro Duarte, M.A., Azevedo, B.C., de Azevedo, J.R., Bramante, C.M., Use of cone-beam volumetric tomography in the diagnosis of root fractures (2009) Oral Surg. Oral Med. Oral Pathol. Oral Radiol. Endod., 108 (2), pp. 270-277. , Epub 2009 Mar 9Bender, I.B., Factors influencing the radiographic appearance of bony lesions (1997) J. Endod., 23 (1), pp. 5-14Stavropoulos, A., Wenzel, A., Accuracy of cone-beam dental CT, intraoral digital and convencional film radiography for the detection of periapical lesions: An ex-vivo study in pig jaws (2007) Clin. Oral. Investig., 11 (1), pp. 101-106Gröndahl, H.G., Huumonen, S., Radiographic manifestations of periapical inflammatory lesions (2004) Endod. Topics, 8, pp. 55-67Tsurumachi, T., Honda, K., A new cone beam computerized tomography system for use in endodontic surgery (2007) Int. Endod. J, 40 (3), pp. 224-232Krithikadatta, J., Kottoor, J., Karumaran, C.S., Rajan, G., Mandibular First Molar Having an Unusual Mesial Root Canal Morphology with Contradictory Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Findings (2010) A Case Report. J. Endod., 36 (10), pp. 1712-1716Bjerklin, K., Ericson, S., How a computerized tomography examination changed the treatment plans of 80 children with retained and ectopically positioned maxillary canines (2006) Angle Orthod., 76 (1), pp. 43-51Muthu, M.S., Kandaswamy, D., Evaluation of completeness of obturation using spiral computed tomography-a volumetric analysis (2011) Int. J. Clin. Dent., 4 (2), pp. 123-132Scardina, G.A., Editorial: Critical reading of a scientific article: Scientific validity (2009) Int. J. Clin. Denti., 2 (4), pp. 205-20