title: Accuracy of in-vitro tooth volumetric measurements from cone-beam computed tomography.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aims of this study were to determine the accuracy of volumetric measurements of teeth in vitro by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) and to analyze the factors affecting their volume measurements from the CBCT data.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used a sample of CBCT-scanned (voxel sizes: 0.125, 0.20, 0.25, 0.30, and 0.40 mm) and laser-scanned crowns (n = 40) and roots (n = 32). The Tukey test was used to assess the differences between the CBCT-scan and the laser-scan volumes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a statistically significant difference between the laser-scan crown volume and each voxel size of CBCT-scan crown volume (P <0.05). CBCT-scan crown volumes at 0.30 and 0.40 mm were statistically significantly distinct from those at 0.125, 0.20, and 0.25 mm (P <0.05). There was a statistically significant difference between the laser-scan root volume and each voxel size of CBCT-scan root volume (P <0.05). The laser-scan root volume at 0.40 mm was statistically significantly distinct from the volumes at 0.125 and 0.20 mm (P <0.05). The in-vitro volume measurements from the CBCT scans were larger than those of the laser scans: from 21.73% to 43.92% in the crown halves, and from 18.27% to 41.58% in the root halves at the different voxel sizes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  With increasing voxel sizes during scanning, the volume measurements of teeth tended to be larger. The surface surrounding artifacts might lead to larger volumes.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, West China School of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
authors.forename: Niansong
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Fan
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jian
authors.forename: Junjie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Xue
authors.forename: Sheng
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Lina
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.forename: Wenya
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Xing
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Wenli
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.forename: Jingtao
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D007834:Lasers; D015588:Observer Variation; D011861:Radiography, Dental / Q000379:methods*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D019228:Tooth Crown / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014092:Tooth Root / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging