title: The ability of cone-beam computed tomography to detect simulated buccal and lingual recesses in root canals.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the ability of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and digital periapical radiographs (PR) to detect simulated tissue-occupied recesses in root canals.
  
  
  METHODS
  A standard canal was created in 30 extracted mandibular premolar roots. Each root was longitudinally split into buccal and lingual halves. In 20 teeth, a standard groove, 4mm in length, 0.5mm deep and 0.3mm wide, was prepared on each root half and filled with radiolucent plasticine (a modelling clay), simulating tissue-occupied buccal and lingual recesses. In the other 10 teeth, no grooves were cut. Each root was reassembled and filled with laterally compacted gutta-percha and sealer. PR and CBCT were used to detect the plasticine-filled grooves. The images were pooled and blindly evaluated by three calibrated examiners (A, B and C). A chi-square test was used to analyse the data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Examiner A, B, C detected grooves on CBCT scans in 20, 20 and 23 teeth, respectively, of which 19, 18 and 19 were true positives. The accuracy of CBCT in diagnosing plasticine-filled grooves was 82-92% for three examiners, significantly higher than the accuracy of PR (30-33%; P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cone-beam computed tomography accurately detected simulated tissue-occupied buccal and lingual recesses.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cariology and Endodontology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
authors.forename: Y-H
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Wesselink
authors.forename: M-K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D001641:Bicuspid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D003786:Dental Pulp Cavity / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006171:Gutta-Percha / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D016300:Radiography, Bitewing / Q000379:methods*; D019252:Radiography, Dental, Digital / Q000379:methods*; D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018915:Root Canal Preparation / Q000379:methods; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D012387:Root Canal Filling Materials; D006171:Gutta-Percha