title: Comparison of periapical radiography with cone beam computed tomography in the diagnosis of vertical root fractures in teeth with metallic post.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the diagnostic accuracy of conventional periapical radiography and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting vertical root fracture (VRF) in tooth with metallic post (MP).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty endodontically-treated teeth received MPs, artificial fractures were created in 10 teeth, and they were all examined with tomography and radiography. The sample consisted of periapical radiography with post and without post, and tomography with post and without post; each group with five fractured and five non-fractured teeth. The images were evaluated by three dental/maxillofacial radiologists and statistical validations were carried out using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sensitivity and specificity of the area under the ROC (Az) of tomography with post (Az = 0.953) and without post (Az = 0.956) were significantly higher than those of periapical radiography with post (Az = 0.753) and without post (Az = 0.778).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT was more accurate than conventional periapical radiography in detecting VRF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju - Sergipe, Brazil.
authors.forename: Wilton Mitsunari
authors.initials: WM
authors.lastname: Takeshita
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lilian Cristina Vessoni
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Iwaki
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Mariliani Chicarelli
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sabio
authors.affiliation: Department of Dentistry, State University of Maringá, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo Ricardo Febrairo
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Albino
keywords: Cone beam computed tomography; dental; diagnosis; digital radiography; radiography; tooth fractures