title: Accuracy of CBCT, Digital Radiography and Cross-Sectioning for the Evaluation of Mandibular Incisor Root Canals.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was to compare the accuracy of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), digital radiography and tooth sectioning in evaluating root canal morphology of mandibular incisors in an in vitro setting.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 76 samples were imaged using CBCT, and digital radiography in straight and angled views. The samples were then sectioned at different distances from the apex for further visualization under stereomicroscope. The agreement between the observers was statistically analyzed by kappa correlation coefficient and the chi-square test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The results showed that the majority of the samples had a single canal (Vertucci's Type I). CBCT analysis reported more frequent multi-canal roots in comparison with the other techniques. In pairwise comparisons, the highest agreement was found between digital radiographic imaging and microscopic cross-sectioning both in terms of canal configuration and the number of root canals.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  None of the used imaging techniques per se could adequately show the exact internal anatomical configuration in accordance with the gold standard.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Dental School, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran;
authors.forename: Hadi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Assadian
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran;
authors.forename: Arash
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dabbaghi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthodontics, Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran;
authors.forename: Morteza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gooran
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran;
authors.forename: Behrouz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Eftekhar
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran;
authors.forename: Sanaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran;
authors.forename: Nassim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Shams
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Dental School, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran;
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dehghani Najvani
authors.affiliation: Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Health, Ahvaz JundiShapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tabesh
keywords: Anatomy; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography; Digital Radiography; Incisor Teeth