title: Common orthodontic appliances cause artifacts that degrade the diagnostic quality of CBCT images.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study evaluates artifacts generated by orthodontic brackets in CBCT images.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cadaver heads with restoration free dentitions were prepared. CBCT scans with four orthodontic bracket materials utilizing thermoplastic carriers and a control were compared in three phases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Stainless steel brackets caused statistically significant (P<0.0001) differences from the control in the three phases.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These observations support the hypothesis that metallic and nonmetallic orthodontic brackets interfere with the diagnostic quality of CBCT images.
authors.affiliation: Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center, Loma Linda, CA, USA. msandersdds@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Matthew A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sanders
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hoyjberg
authors.forename: Curtis B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.forename: V Leroy
authors.initials: VL
authors.lastname: Leggitt
authors.forename: Jay S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D002102:Cadaver; D002516:Ceramics; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D003722:Dental Alloys; D003764:Dental Materials; D003804:Dentin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D016910:Orthodontic Brackets; D010969:Plastics; D011786:Quality Control; D011856:Radiographic Image Enhancement; D013193:Stainless Steel; D014025:Titanium
chemical_list: D003722:Dental Alloys; D003764:Dental Materials; D010969:Plastics; D013193:Stainless Steel; D014025:Titanium