title: Vertical root fracture: Biological effects and accuracy of diagnostic imaging methods.
abstract: This review assessed the most up-to-date literature on the accuracy of detecting vertical root fractures (VRFs] using the currently available diagnostic imaging methods. In addition, an overview of the biological and clinical aspects of VRFs will also be discussed. A systematic review of the literature was initiated in December of 2015 and then updated in May of 2016. The electronic databases searched included PubMed, Emabse, Ovid, and Google Scholar. An assessment of the methodological quality was performed using a modified version of the quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies tool. Twenty-two studies were included in this systematic review after applying specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Of those, 12 favored using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) for detecting VRF as compared to periapical radiographs, whereas 5 reported no differences between the two methods. The remaining 5 studies confirmed the advantages associated with using CBCT when diagnosing VRF and described the parameters and limitations associated with this method, but they were not comparative studies. In conclusion, overwhelming evidence suggests that the use of CBCT is a preferred method for detecting VRFs. Nevertheless, additional well controlled and high quality studies are needed to produce solid evidence and guidelines to support the routine use of CBCT in the diagnosis of VRFs as a standard of care.
authors.affiliation: Interns Training Program, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Turki M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Baageel
authors.affiliation: Interns Training Program, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Emad Habib
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Allah
authors.affiliation: Department of Dental, King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ghaida T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Bakalka
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Fatima
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jadu
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yamany
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Ahmed M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jan
authors.affiliation: Department of Endodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Dania F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Bogari
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Biology, Faculty of Dentistry, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: Turki Y
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Alhazzazi
keywords: Accuracy; cone beam computed tomography; periapical radiographs; vertical root facture