Measurement accuracy of temporomandibular joint space in Promax 3-dimensional cone-beam computerized tomography images.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the measurement accuracy of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) space in the Promax 3D cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) images scanned with 2 different dental protocols.


METHODS
TMJ space impression models were made according to the occlusion. Forty joints were scanned with the standard and the large view protocol of the Promax 3D CBCT scanner. Two observers measured the joint spaces 3 times on both radiographs and the photocopies of the impression models.


RESULTS
A total of 120 CBCT images were measured. There were no significant differences among the actual joint spaces and the CBCT measurements performed with the 2 scanning protocols (P = .305). The inter- and intraobserver variabilities were not significant.


CONCLUSIONS
The 2 scanning protocols provided by the Promax 3D CBCT scanner were reliable and similar for recording the TMJ space.
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Peking University School and Hospital of Stomatology, Beijing, China.
Zhi-ling
ZL
Zhang
Jun-ge
JG
Cheng
Gang
G
Li
Ji-zong
JZ
Zhang
Zu-yan
ZY
Zhang
Xu-Chen
XC
Ma
D002102:Cadaver; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D013704:Temporomandibular Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*