title: The contribution of trabecular bone to the visibility of the lamina dura: an in vitro radiographic study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to determine the degree to which trabecular bone contributes to the radiographic visibility of lamina dura.
  
  
  METHODS
  Segments of human cadaver mandible were obtained and split longitudinally. Two identical radiographs were made of each segment (1) before the removal of any additional bone and after (2) the removal of a small amount of the lamina dura at the apex of a tooth, (3) block removal of trabecular bone, and (4) smoothing of the endosteal surface of the external cortex. The radiographs were projected in random pairs for each sample. Six dentists judged whether a difference in the amount of lamina dura could be detected between 2 sets of radiographs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Chi-square analysis revealed a significant radiographic difference between radiographs made initially and after removal of the lamina dura and trabecular bone.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fewer than half of the changes of lamina dura loss alone could be detected radiographically by the observing dentists, whereas nearly all cases of the loss of periapical lamina dura in conjunction with loss of trabecular bone could be detected.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Faculty of Odontology, University of São Paulo, Brazil. mgpcaval@usp.br
authors.forename: Marcelo G P
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Cavalcanti
authors.forename: Axel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ruprecht
authors.forename: William T
authors.initials: WT
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Southard
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jakobsen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015588:Observer Variation; D010486:Periapical Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography