title: Analysis of vector models in quantification of artifacts produced by standard prosthetic inlays in Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)--a preliminary study.
abstract: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a relatively new, but highly efficient imaging method applied first in dentistry in 1998. However, the quality of the obtained slices depends among other things on artifacts generated by dental restorations as well as orthodontic and prosthetic appliances. The aim of the study was to quantify the artifacts produced by standard prosthetic inlays in CBCT images. The material consisted of 17 standard prosthetic inlays mounted in dental roots embedded in resin. The samples were examined by means of a large field of view CBCT unit, Galileos (Sirona, Germany), at 85 kV and 14 mAs. The analysis was performed using Able 3DDoctor software for data in the CT raster space as well as by means of Materialise Magics software for generated vector models (STL). The masks generated in the raster space included the area of the inlays together with image artifacts. The region of interest (ROI) of the raster space is a set of voxels from a selected range of Hounsfield units (109-3071). Ceramic inlay with zirconium dioxide (Cera Post) as well as epoxy resin inlay including silica fibers enriched with zirconium (Easy Post) produced the most intense artifacts. The smallest image distortions were created by titanium inlays, both passive (Harald Nordin) and active (Flexi Flange). Inlays containing zirconium generated the strongest artifacts, thus leading to the greatest distortions in the CBCT images. Carbon fiber inlay did not considerably affect the image quality.
authors.affiliation: Independent Unit of Propedeutics of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Różyło-Kalinowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Mechanical Engineering, Rzeszow University of Technology, Rzeszów, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Miechowicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Prosthetics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Katarzyna
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sarna-Boś
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental Prosthetics, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Borowicz
authors.affiliation: Independent Unit of Epidemiology, Medical University of Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kalinowski
mesh_terms: D016477:Artifacts; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods; D007284:Inlays; D019047:Phantoms, Imaging; D036301:Qualitative Research; D011857:Radiographic Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods