Assessment of vertical root fracture using cone-beam computed tomography.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to investigate the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of vertical root fractures in a tooth with gutta-percha and prefabricated posts.


METHODS
This study selected 96 extracted molar and premolar teeth of the mandible. These teeth were divided into six groups as follows: Groups A, B, and C consisted of teeth with vertical root fractures, and groups D, E, and F had teeth without vertical root fractures; groups A and D had teeth with gutta-percha and prefabricated posts; groups B and E had teeth with gutta-percha but without prefabricated posts, and groups C and F had teeth without gutta-percha or prefabricated posts. Then, the CBCT scans were obtained and examined by three oral and maxillofacial radiologists in order to determine the presence of vertical root fractures. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS 20.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY, USA).


RESULTS
The kappa coefficient was 0.875±0.049. Groups A and D showed a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 100%; groups E and B, a sensitivity of 94% and a specificity of 100%; and groups C and F, a sensitivity of 88% and a specificity of 100%.


CONCLUSIONS
The CBCT scans revealed a high accuracy in the diagnosis of vertical root fractures; the accuracy did not decrease in the presence of gutta-percha. The presence of prefabricated posts also had little effect on the accuracy of the system, which was, of course, not statistically significant.
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department, Dental Material Research Center, Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Ehsan
E
Moudi
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department, Dental Material Research Center, Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Sina
S
Haghanifar
Endodontics Department, Dental Material Research Center, Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Zahrasadat
Z
Madani
Prosthodontics Department, Dental Material Research Center, Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Abdolhamid
A
Alhavaz
Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Ali
A
Bijani
Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology Department, Dental Material Research Center, Dental School, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran.
Mohammad
M
Bagheri
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Gutta-Percha; Tooth Fractures