title: Evaluation of accuracy of cone beam computed tomography for measurement of periodontal defects: A clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to evaluate the accuracy of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) measurements of alveolar bone defects caused due to periodontal disease, by comparing it with actual surgical measurements which is the gold standard.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hundred periodontal bone defects in fifteen patients suffering from periodontitis and scheduled for flap surgery were included in the study. On the day of surgery prior to anesthesia, CBCT of the quadrant to be operated was taken. After reflection of the flap, clinical measurements of periodontal defect were made using a reamer and digital vernier caliper. The measurements taken during surgery were then compared to the measurements done with CBCT and subjected to statistical analysis using the Pearson's correlation test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall there was a very high correlation of 0.988 between the surgical and CBCT measurements. In case of type of defects the correlation was higher in horizontal defects as compared to vertical defects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CBCT is highly accurate in measurement of periodontal defects and proves to be a very useful tool in periodontal diagnosis and treatment assessment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Akshaya Bhupesh
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Banodkar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Rajesh Prabhakar
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Gaikwad
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Tanay Udayrao
authors.initials: TU
authors.lastname: Gunjikar
authors.affiliation: Department of Periodontics, Government Dental College and Hospital, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Tanya Arthur
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lobo
keywords: Bone defects; cone beam computed tomography; intra-oral radiograph; periodontal disease