Precision, reproducibility, and accuracy of bone crest level measurements of CBCT cross sections using different resolutions.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the precision, reproducibility, and accuracy of alveolar crest level measurements on CBCT images obtained with different voxel sizes.


METHODS
CBCT exams were made of 12 dried human mandibles with voxel dimensions of 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 mm. Bone crest level was measured directly on the mandibles with a digital caliper and on CBCT images. Images were measured twice by two examiners. Intra- and interexaminer precision and reproducibility were assessed using paired and t-tests, respectively. Accuracy was evaluated using t-tests.


RESULTS
Precision and reproducibility of bone crest level tomographic measurements was good for all voxel sizes evaluated. The images with 0.2-mm voxel size showed a decreased number of intraexaminer errors. A high accuracy for measurements of bone crest level was observed for all CBCT definitions, except for the mandibular incisors using the 0.4-mm voxel size.


CONCLUSIONS
Precision and reproducibility of alveolar bone level measurements were good for various voxel sizes. CBCT images demonstrated good accuracy for 0.2-mm and 0.3-mm voxel sizes. The mandibular incisor region needs better resolution than that provided by 0.4-mm voxel size for bone crest level measurements.
a   Orthodontic Graduate Student, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
Carolina Carmo
CC
Menezes
b   Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
Guilherme
G
Janson
a   Orthodontic Graduate Student, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
Camila
C
da Silveira Massaro
c   Periodontic Graduate Student, Department of Prosthodontics, Bauru Dental School, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
Lucas
L
Cambiaghi
d   Associate Professor, Department of Orthodontics, Bauru Dental School, Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies, University of São Paulo, Bauru, SP, Brazil.
Daniela Gamba
DG
Garib
D000539:Alveolar Process / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; D006801:Humans; D007180:Incisor; D008334:Mandible; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
Alveolar bone; Cone beam computed tomography; Reproducibility