title: Rapid 3D mandibular superimposition for growing patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the precision and reproducibility of a protocol to perform rapid voxel-based superimposition of the mandible in growing patients using CBCT.
  
  
  METHODS
  The sample comprised two cone-beam computed tomography scans taken at least 1 year apart from each of 24 growing patients. Voxel-based superimposition was performed by two examiners independently. The internal part of the symphysis extending to the first molar was used as the reference. The superimposition process took approximately 5 minutes. Once the mandibles were superimposed, surface models were created and root mean square (RMS) changes were obtained by means of iterative closest point. To evaluate precision, differences in three areas were measured between time point 1 (T1) and time point 2 (T2) superimposed. To evaluate reproducibility between different examiners, the distances between T2 superimposed by each operator were measured in five different areas. Descriptive statistics were used to evaluate the precision of the superimposition and the interexaminer reproducibility measurements for each case were reported individually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The superimposition mean error between T1 and T2 for the right and left sides of the mandible and chin were 0.23 mm, 0.25 mm, and 0.33 mm, respectively. Interexaminer reproducibility error was ≤0.3 mm in 20 of 24 cases for measurements near the registration area. In the ramus area, two cases had errors >1 mm (1 mm-1.3 mm).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The rapid superimposition was precise for assessing dentoalveolar changes and structures close to the registration area. However, evaluation of the condyles and ramus area had limitations and needs improvement.
authors: Leonardo
authors: L
authors: Koerich
authors: André
authors: A
authors: Weissheimer
authors: Luciane Macedo
authors: LM
authors: de Menezes
authors: Steven J
authors: SJ
authors: Lindauer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D002648:Child; D054893:Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D008445:Maxillofacial Development; D008953:Models, Anatomic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results
keywords: 3D image registration; CBCT superimposition; Cone-beam CT; Three-dimensional image