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Aim: To assess the observed volume of filled C-shaped root canals from different CBCT and micro-CT having nano-CT as a reference., Materials and Methods: Twelve extracted mandibular molars with C-shaped root canals were endodontically treated using Reciproc Blue R25 (VDW GMBH, Munich, Germany) in a reciprocating system and filled with gutta-percha (Dentsply Maillefer) and AH Plus sealer (Dentsply DeTrey, Konstanz, Germany). CBCT scans were performed using 3 units-3D Accuitomo 170 (J. Morita, Kyoto, Japan), ProMax 3D Max (Planmeca, Helsinki, Finland), and NewTom VGi EVO (Cefla QR, Verona, Italy)-at two resolution modes: standard and high. Micro-CT and nano-CT scans were also obtained. The volume of all filled C-shaped root canals was obtained using CTAn software (Bruker, Kontich, Belgium), and the blooming artifact, in relation to nano-CT volume, was calculated. The data were evaluated by the Bland-Altman plots and ANOVA two-way for repeated measures (α = 0.05)., Results: All CBCT units and micro-CT showed significantly larger observed volume of root canal filling when compared to nano-CT. The blooming artifact of root canal filling in standard resolution was significantly larger than that in high resolution (p < 0.05) in all CBCT units., Conclusions: Endodontic filling material with AH Plus sealer causes blooming artifacts in CBCT units and micro-CT., Clinical Relevance: Considering the anatomical complexity of C-shaped root canals and the challenges associated with endodontic treatment, CBCT is frequently recommended for follow-up evaluations. However, the presence of endodontic filling material can result in blooming artifacts that may potentially impact the accurate diagnosis of endodontic complications., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: The aim of this review was to investigate the application of artificial intelligence (AI) in maxillofacial computer-assisted surgical planning (CASP) workflows with the discussion of limitations and possible future directions., Materials and Methods: An in-depth search of the literature was undertaken to review articles concerned with the application of AI for segmentation, multimodal image registration, virtual surgical planning (VSP), and three-dimensional (3D) printing steps of the maxillofacial CASP workflows., Results: The existing AI models were trained to address individual steps of CASP, and no single intelligent workflow was found encompassing all steps of the planning process. Segmentation of dentomaxillofacial tissue from computed tomography (CT)/cone-beam CT imaging was the most commonly explored area which could be applicable in a clinical setting. Nevertheless, a lack of generalizability was the main issue, as the majority of models were trained with the data derived from a single device and imaging protocol which might not offer similar performance when considering other devices. In relation to registration, VSP and 3D printing, the presence of inadequate heterogeneous data limits the automatization of these tasks., Conclusion: The synergy between AI and CASP workflows has the potential to improve the planning precision and efficacy. However, there is a need for future studies with big data before the emergent technology finds application in a real clinical setting., Clinical Relevance: The implementation of AI models in maxillofacial CASP workflows could minimize a surgeon's workload and increase efficiency and consistency of the planning process, meanwhile enhancing the patient-specific predictability., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To qualitatively and quantitatively assess integrated segmentation of three convolutional neural network (CNN) models for the creation of a maxillary virtual patient (MVP) from cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images., Materials and Methods: A dataset of 40 CBCT scans acquired with different scanning parameters was selected. Three previously validated individual CNN models were integrated to achieve a combined segmentation of maxillary complex, maxillary sinuses, and upper dentition. Two experts performed a qualitative assessment, scoring-integrated segmentations from 0 to 10 based on the number of required refinements. Furthermore, experts executed refinements, allowing performance comparison between integrated automated segmentation (AS) and refined segmentation (RS) models. Inter-observer consistency of the refinements and the time needed to create a full-resolution automatic segmentation were calculated., Results: From the dataset, 85% scored 7-10, and 15% were within 3-6. The average time required for automated segmentation was 1.7 min. Performance metrics indicated an excellent overlap between automatic and refined segmentation with a dice similarity coefficient (DSC) of 99.3%. High inter-observer consistency of refinements was observed, with a 95% Hausdorff distance (HD) of 0.045 mm., Conclusion: The integrated CNN models proved to be fast, accurate, and consistent along with a strong interobserver consistency in creating the MVP., Clinical Relevance: The automated segmentation of these structures simultaneously could act as a valuable tool in clinical orthodontics, implant rehabilitation, and any oral or maxillofacial surgical procedures, where visualization of MVP and its relationship with surrounding structures is a necessity for reaching an accurate diagnosis and patient-specific treatment planning., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

The dental practice has largely evolved in the last 50 years following a better understanding of the biomechanical behaviour of teeth and its supporting structures, as well as developments in the fields of imaging and biomaterials. However, many patients still encounter treatment failures; this is related to the complex nature of evaluating the biomechanical aspects of each clinical situation due to the numerous patient-specific parameters, such as occlusion and root anatomy. In parallel, the advent of cone beam computed tomography enabled researchers in the field of odontology as well as clinicians to gather and model patient data with sufficient accuracy using image processing and finite element technologies. These developments gave rise to a new precision medicine concept that proposes to individually assess anatomical and biomechanical characteristics and adapt treatment options accordingly. While this approach is already applied in maxillofacial surgery, its implementation in dentistry is still restricted. However, recent advancements in artificial intelligence make it possible to automate several parts of the laborious modelling task, bringing such user-assisted decision-support tools closer to both clinicians and researchers. Therefore, the present narrative review aimed to present and discuss the current literature investigating patient-specific modelling in dentistry, its state-of-the-art applications, and research perspectives., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: The overall objective of this study was to assess how metal artefacts impact image quality of 13 CBCT devices. As a secondary objective, the influence of scanning protocols and field of view on CBCT image quality with and without metal artefacts was also assessed., Materials and Methods: CBCT images were acquired of a dry human skull phantom considering three clinical simulated conditions: one without metal and two with metallic materials (metallic pin and implant). An industrial micro-CT was used as a reference to register the CBCT images. Afterwards, four observers evaluated 306 representative image slices from 13 devices, ranking them from best to worst. Furthermore, within each device, medium FOV and small FOV standard images were compared. General linear mixed models were used to assess subjective perception of examiners on overall image quality in the absence and presence of metal-related artefacts (p < 0.05)., Results: Image quality perception significantly differed amongst CBCT devices (p < 0.05). Some devices performed significantly better, independently of scanning protocol and clinical condition. In the presence of metal artefacts, medium FOV standard scanning protocols scored significantly better, while in the absence of metal, small FOV standard yielded the highest performance., Conclusions: Subjective image quality differs significantly amongst CBCT devices and scanning protocols. Metal-related artefacts may highly impact image quality, with a significant device-dependent variability and only few scanners being more robust against metal artefacts. Often, metal artefact expression may be somewhat reduced by proper protocol selection., Clinical Relevance: Metallic objects may severely impact image quality in several CBCT devices., (© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The aim of this systematic review was to provide evidence related to the association between non-antiresorptive medications and MRONJ., Materials and Methods: The following three electronic databases were screened: PubMed, EMBASE, and Web of Science from December 2020 until April 2021. Two reviewers independently performed the study selection, data extraction, and quality assessment of the included studies. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for assessing the risk of bias. A meta-analysis was performed for assessing the relationship between MRONJ and non-antiresorptive medications., Results: The search strategy retrieved 996 articles. Following removal of duplicates, title, and abstract screening and full-text reading, 58 publications were eligible to be included in the review. A total of 867 cases of MRONJ were included (33% female, 55% male, 12% no gender reported). The mean age of the patients when MRONJ was diagnosed was 61 years (range 19-100 years) and the average time of diagnosis was 10 months following non-antiresorptive drug therapy. Patients with a history of corticosteroids (0.61, 95% CI 0.39, 0.82, p =  < 0.001) and chemotherapy (0.59, 95% CI 0.51, 0.67, p =  < 0.001) showed the highest significant effect size (ED) compared to the control group for MRONJ occurrence., Conclusion: A significant association existed between MRONJ and non-antiresorptive drugs. However, considering limited evidence, findings should be interpreted with caution., Clinical Relevance: The non-antiresorptive drugs might allow the dentist to apply the principle of "drug holiday" following concurrence from the drug prescribing clinician., Prospero Registration Number: CRD42020173891., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: This study aimed to describe and compare CBCT imaging prescription in clinical practice among orthodontists from five countries in Europe and America. Additionally, it investigated factors associated with the prescribing and the use of guidelines for CBCT imaging., Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out using an online questionnaire sent to all registered orthodontists in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Romania, and the United States of America (USA). The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, bivariate tests, and Poisson regression., Results: The final sample consisted of 1284 participants. CBCT was prescribed by 84.4% of the participants for selected cases (84.9%), mainly for impacted teeth (92.4%), presurgical planning (54.1%), and root resorption (51.9%). High cost was most frequently the limiting factor for CBCT prescription (55.4%). Only 45.2% of those who were using CBCT imaging reported adhering to guidelines. CBCT imaging prescription was associated with the orthodontists' countries (p < .009, except for Belgium, p = .068), while the use of guidelines was associated with the respondents' country and additional training on CBCT imaging (p < .001)., Conclusions: Orthodontists refer patients for CBCT for selected indications (impacted teeth, root resorption, presurgical planning, dentofacial deformities, as suggested by the international guidelines, and also for upper airway and temporomandibular joint evaluation). Many do not adhere to specific guidelines. There are substantial variations between the countries about the orthodontists' referral for CBCT and guideline usage, irrespective of gender. CBCT prescription may be limited by financial barriers, adhering to specific guidelines and prior CBCT training., Clinical Relevance: CBCT prescription among orthodontists must be based on prescription criteria and current guidelines. It is advised to improve CBCT education and training to enhance CBCT selection, referral, analysis, and interpretation in orthodontic practice., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: The present study aimed to assess whether anatomical variations of the mandibular canal are associated with neurosensory disturbances of the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) following mandibular third molar removal., Methods: Two observers compared the detection of third molar root-nerve relations and bifurcations of the mandibular canal on panoramic radiographs and CBCT images of 201 patients undergoing removal of 357 mandibular third molars. Potential neurosensory disturbances of the IAN were surveyed ten days after surgery. Fisher's Exact was performed to correlate presence of canal variations to postoperative neurosensory disturbances. Positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) and likelihood ratios (LR + , LR-) were calculated., Results: Thirteen patients reported postoperative altered sensation of the lower lip, with 2 of them having mandibular canal bifurcations on the ipsilateral side of the injury. Fisher's Exact showed that the studied mandibular canal variations were not related to postoperative neurosensory disturbances. CBCT was superior in visualization of anatomical variations of the mandibular canal. Prevalence of bifurcations was 14% on CBCT and 7% on panoramic radiographs. In both imaging modalities and for all parameters, PPVs were low (0.04 - 0.06) and NPVs were high (0.92 - 0.98), with LR ranging around 1., Conclusion: In the present study, the assessed mandibular canal variations had limited predictive value for IAN neurosensory disturbances following third molar removal., Clinical Relevance: While a close relation between the third molar and the mandibular canal remains a high risk factor, mandibular canal variations did not pose an increased risk of postoperative IAN injury after third molar removal., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: The aim of this study was to quantify the symmetry of the facial hard tissue structures using three-dimensional radiographic imaging modalities in a normal Caucasian population group., Materials and Methods: Electronic literature search was conducted in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to February 2021. The studies assessing symmetry of facial bones using computed tomography (CT) and cone beam CT were included., Results: The initial search revealed 8811 studies. Full-text analysis was performed on 33 studies. Only 10 studies were found eligible based on the inclusion criteria. The qualitative analysis revealed that a significant variability existed in relation to the methodologies applied for symmetry quantification., Conclusion: The current review suggested that the overall relative symmetry of the normal Caucasian population group varied depending on the skeletal structure being assessed; however, majority of the observations showed a symmetry within the range of 1 mm without any significant difference between left and right sides., Clinical Relevance: The quantification of facial hard tissue structure symmetry is vital for the diagnosis and treatment planning of orthodontic and/or maxillofacial surgical procedures. Prospero registration number CRD42020169908., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Objectives: Although panoramic radiographs are extensively studied for diagnosis and preoperative planning in third molar surgery, research on the predictive value of this radiographic information regarding the postoperative recovery of patients remains underexploited. This prospective cohort study aimed to assess the potential relationship between radiologic risk indicators and persistent postoperative morbidity, in 1009 patients undergoing 2825 third molar extractions in context of the M3BE study., Methods: Two observers evaluated ten radiographic parameters: vertical and horizontal eruption status, third molar orientation, surgical difficulty, nerve relation, maxillary sinus relation, presence of periapical and pericoronal radiolucencies, caries, and third or second molar resorption. Patients' postoperative recovery was recorded 3 and 10 days after surgery. Univariate logistic regression was performed to assess potential associations between radiographic risk indicators and persistent postoperative morbidity., Results: Deep impactions were significantly associated with the persistence of postoperative pain, trismus and swelling until 10 days after surgery, prolonged need for pain medication, and the inability to resume daily activities and work/studies. Pericoronal radiolucencies and resorption were significantly associated with persistent morbidity and a longer recovery time, whereas caries and periapical lesions were linked to a shorter recovery time., Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, clinicians may better inform patients at risk for persistent postoperative discomfort according to what was preoperatively diagnosed on the panoramic radiograph., Clinical Relevance: Preoperative panoramic radiographs contain information about patients at risk of prolonged recovery after third molar removal. Several risk indicators for persistent postoperative morbidity were identified., (© 2021. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH, DE part of Springer Nature.)

Objective: To evaluate the performance of a new artificial intelligence (AI)-driven tool for tooth detection and segmentation on panoramic radiographs., Materials and Methods: In total, 153 radiographs were collected. A dentomaxillofacial radiologist labeled and segmented each tooth, serving as the ground truth. Class-agnostic crops with one tooth resulted in 3576 training teeth. The AI-driven tool combined two deep convolutional neural networks with expert refinement. Accuracy of the system to detect and segment teeth was the primary outcome, time analysis secondary. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used to evaluate differences of performance metrics among teeth groups and different devices and chi-square test to verify associations among the amount of corrections, presence of false positive and false negative, and crown and root parts of teeth with potential AI misinterpretations., Results: The system achieved a sensitivity of 98.9% and a precision of 99.6% for tooth detection. For segmenting teeth, lower canines presented best results with the following values for intersection over union, precision, recall, F1-score, and Hausdorff distances: 95.3%, 96.9%, 98.3%, 97.5%, and 7.9, respectively. Although still above 90%, segmentation results for both upper and lower molars were somewhat lower. The method showed a clinically significant reduction of 67% of the time consumed for the manual., Conclusions: The AI tool yielded a highly accurate and fast performance for detecting and segmenting teeth, faster than the ground truth alone., Clinical Significance: An innovative clinical AI-driven tool showed a faster and more accurate performance to detect and segment teeth on panoramic radiographs compared with manual segmentation.

Objective: To verify whether mandibular cortical analyses accurately distinguish postmenopausal women with normal bone mineral density (BMD) from women with osteoporosis by means of a cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-driven composite osteoporosis index (three-dimensional mandibular osteoporosis index-3D MOI)., Material and Methods: The comparison was performed between 52 women with normal BMD and 51 women with osteoporosis according to dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) examination of the lumbar spine and hip. Mandibular cortical width (MCW) and cortical quality were evaluated on cross-sectional and panoramic reconstructed images. ANOVA, ROC curves and accuracy measurements were used for statistical analyses, as well as a predictive model combining the quantitative and qualitative analyses and age., Results: All CBCT-driven measurements presented good to moderate intra- and interobserver agreements. MCW values were significantly lower in women with osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women with osteoporosis were 8 times more likely to have the cortex classified as C3, and 2.4 times more likely to have MCW thinner than 2.75 mm. The area under the ROC curve was 0.8 for the predictive model., Conclusions: The newly developed 3D MOI enables distinguishing women with osteoporosis from those with normal BMD with good sensitivity and specificity., Clinical Relevance: Whenever a CBCT scan is performed for specific clinical indications, a 3D MOI may be performed to qualitatively and quantitatively assess the condition of the mandibular cortex. This may be surely helpful to assess the osteoporosis status in the ageing population and more specifically in peri- or postmenopausal women.

Objective: The main aim is to identify, by means of different imaging modalities, the early bone changes in patients "at risk" and in stage 0 MRONJ., Materials and Methods: A search of the literature was performed on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases, until June 9, 2020. No language or year restrictions were applied. Screening of the articles, data collection, and qualitative analysis was done. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) was used for observational studies, and the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory Animal Experimentation's (SYRCLE) risk of bias tool for the animal studies., Results: A total of 1188 articles were found, from which 47 were considered eligible, whereas 42 were suitable for the qualitative analysis. They correspond to 39 human studies and 8 animal studies. Radiographic findings such as bone sclerosis, osteolytic areas, thickening of lamina dura, persisting alveolar socket, periapical radiolucency, thicker mandibular cortex, widening of the periodontal ligament space, periodontal bone loss, and enhancement of the mandibular canal were identified as early bone changes due to antiresorptive therapy. All those findings were also reported later in Stage 0 patients., Conclusion: The main limitations of these results are the lack of prospective data and comparisons groups; therefore, careful interpretation should be made. It is a fact that radiographic findings are present in antiresorptive-treated patients, but the precise timepoint of occurrence, their relation to the posology, and potential risk to develop MRONJ are not clear., Clinical Relevance: The importance of a baseline radiographic diagnosis for antiresorptive-treated patients.

Purpose: Current methods to analyse the globe position, including Hertel exophthalmometry and computed tomography (CT), are limited to the axial plane and require the lateral orbital rim and cornea as landmarks. This pilot study aimed to design a method to measure the position of the globe in the axial, coronal and sagittal plane and independent from orbital bony and corneal references., Methods: With the aid of three-dimensional CT reconstruction technology, we determined the globe position in the orbit based on the centre of the globe. Method validation was performed using data of consecutive orbital CT scans from the control group and from the patients with Graves' orbitopathy who underwent orbital decompression surgery with removal of the lateral orbital margin., Results: The inter- and intra-observer reliability was excellent with a high intraclass correlation coefficient (> 0.99, 95% CI [0.97; 1.00]). In the decompressed orbits, there was a statistically significant globe position shift along the anterior-posterior axis (P = 0.0005, 95% CI [0.63; 3.66]), but not along the medial-lateral and superior-inferior axis., Conclusion: The 3D CT method can accurately and reliably characterise the globe position shift in the three dimensions without using orbital and corneal anatomical landmarks. The method can be useful to determine the globe shift in proptosis, enophthalmos, hypoglobus and hyperglobus, even in the presence of strabismus and orbital bone defects.

Objectives: This retrospective study evaluated the visibility, location, and morphology of the primary maxillary ostium (PMO), as well as the presence and number of accessory maxillary ostia (AMO) in the maxillary sinus using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Materials and Methods: CBCT scans with a large field of view with both maxillary sinuses entirely visible, acquired from February 2016 to February 2018, were initially screened. Patients were included if there was no history of surgical intervention/trauma in the sinus region. Two observers evaluated the CBCTs for PMO and AMOs independently. PMO and AMOs were evaluated in axial, coronal, and sagittal CBCT views. In case of disagreement, a third observer served as a referee. The findings were correlated with age, gender, condition of the sinus mucosa, and status of the dentition to assess for potential influencing factors., Results: A total of 184 patients (368 maxillary sinuses) were included. PMO was present and patent in 346 (94.0%) of the 368 analyzed sinuses. Most of the PMOs were located above the attachment of and in the middle third of the inferior turbinate (76.1%) and exhibited a slit shape (71.1%). An AMO was present in 167 (45.5%) of the 368 analyzed sinuses, and 66 (17.9%) sinuses had multiple AMOs. Gender and sinus mucosa morphology were found to be influencing factors for the patency of the PMO. Furthermore, gender seems to be influencing the presence of an AMO., Conclusions: Most of the analyzed maxillary sinus cavities in the present population had a patent PMO. Being male and having morphological changes of the sinus mucosa were factors associated with a reduced prevalence of a patent PMO., Clinical Relevance: A maxillary sinus with pathological findings of the mucosa seems to have a reduced prevalence of patent PMOs. Therefore, clinicians should take care to assess any clinical and radiographical sign indicating a potential maxillary sinusitis prior to surgical interventions in this region, especially in cases with planned sinus floor elevation.

Aim: To assess blooming artifacts caused by root canal sealers in CBCT images compared with those that appeared in micro-CT scan images used as references., Materials and Method: Thirty freshly extracted human mandibular central incisors were used. Root canals were prepared with nickel titanium files with an ISO size 40/0.06 taper and filled with a single cone (40/0.06 taper) and three different sealers. The samples were divided into the following three groups with 10 roots each: (I) AH Plus sealer; (II) Sure Seal Root; and (III) Total BC sealer. Teeth were scanned with the same voxel sizes (0.2 mm) in different CBCT devices and the micro-CT images were acquired as reference images., Results: Significantly different results in terms of blooming artifacts were detected between CBCT and micro-CT images, as well as among the CBCTs images. The canals filled with AH Plus sealer showed more blooming artifacts than those filled with bioceramic sealers (p < 0.05). Additionally, the worst blooming artifact was observed when the images were acquired with lower kilovoltage peak., Conclusion: The appearance of blooming artifacts is dependent on sealer and CBCT, and their effects are significantly worse than they are in micro-CT images. The differential effect of different sealers and distinct CBCT protocols should be further investigated to enable the use of bioceramic sealers without a significant impact on post-treatment imaging., Clinical Relevance: Root canal sealers showed a different extent of blooming artifact in CBCT images. Hence, researchers and clinicians should be aware of these artifacts before conducting endodontic evaluations using CBCT images.

Objectives: A narrative review on the potential use of low-dose protocols for cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was conducted to identify indications and their relevance for various dental disciplines., Materials and Methods: Google Scholar was searched using the words "low-dose CBCT". Reviews, consensus papers, clinical studies, and experimental studies were eligible for the initial screening process, but for data extraction only original articles were selected. Similar search procedures were then performed with the additional search words "pedo," "ortho," "endo," "implant," "perio," and "oral surgery." Furthermore, references of included articles were examined to identify further relevant articles., Results: After screening, 27 publications remained for the data extraction process. Low-dose protocols have been reported for specialties such as pediatric dentistry (evaluating orofacial clefts, periapical lesions, impacted teeth, and autotransplantation), orthodontics (cephalometric analysis and interim assessment of treatment results), endodontics (detecting root fractures, resorptions and periapical bone loss), implant dentistry (planning implant insertion, evaluating peri-implant fenestration and dehiscence), periodontology (assessing periodontal structures), and oral and maxillofacial surgery (assessing mandibular third molars and TMJs). Nevertheless, most of the literature available is related to non-clinical studies. Furthermore, there is a lack of position statements or guidelines from authoritative bodies regarding the use of low-dose protocols in dental medicine., Conclusions: Low-dose protocols for CBCT imaging seem to have potential in various disciplines in dental medicine ranging from pediatric dentistry to oral and maxillofacial surgery. Dose reduction is usually achieved by mAs reduction, use of partial rotations, reduced number of projections, and larger voxel sizes, but seldom by kV reduction., Clinical Relevance: Albeit low-dose protocols have potential to result in a reduction of dose exposure for 3D imaging due to dental indications, there is a need to more clearly specify indications and limitations to avoid indiscriminate use of standard and high-dose CBCT scans in the future on the lines of ALARA/ALADA principles.

Objective: The interruption of antithrombotics prior to tooth removal because of the fear of bleeding or following postoperative bleeding increases the risk of thromboembolic events. The aim of this systematic review was to investigate which local haemostatic measures can effectively prevent postoperative bleeding in patients continuing oral antithrombotics., Methods: A systematic review was conducted by running a search in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and Cochrane Library. Clinical randomised trials investigating bleeding and haemostatics after tooth removal in patients on antithrombotics were identified., Results: In total, 15 articles were included. The investigated haemostatics included gauze pressure, tranexamic acid-soaked gauze, sponges, glue, calcium sulfate, plant extract Ankaferd Blood Stopper, epsilon-aminocaproic acid and tranexamic acid. In patients treated with vitamin K antagonists, tranexamic acid mouthwash significantly reduced bleeding compared to placebo. Further, histoacryl glue was proven better than gelatin sponges. Other studies failed to show significant differences between haemostatics, but bleeding events were low., Conclusions: Tranexamic acid seems to effectively reduce bleeding, although its superiority to other haemostatics was not proven. In view of the rapidly changing landscape of antithrombotics and the lack of standardization of bleeding outcome, adequately powered clinical studies are required to optimise postoperative management in patients on antithrombotics., Clinical Relevance: In order to optimise postoperative management, the best haemostatics over different patient groups have to be identified and implemented in guidelines.

Objective: The objective of the study was to compare estimates of pediatric cumulative exposure and lifetime attributable risk (LAR) of radiation-induced cancer from dental radiology between cleft palate (CP) subjects and age- and gender-matched controls (non-CP), with and without orthodontic treatment., Materials and Methods: The radiation exposure frequency of CP subjects and non-CP controls with and without orthodontic treatment was compared for two-dimensional radiography (intra-oral, panoramic and cephalometric radiography), computed tomography (CT), and cone-beam CT (CBCT) using cumulative radiation dose as an estimate. From this dose estimate, the age- and gender-dependent risk for radiation-induced stochastic effects was calculated for each patient group., Results: CP patients received more radiographic examinations than non-CP controls, with the exception of intra-oral radiographs. The cumulative dose to CP patients was considerably higher (1963 μSv at the age of 20 years) than non-CP patients with (597 μSv) and without (383 μSv) orthodontic treatment, primarily due to the higher frequency of CT scanning. Accordingly, CP patients had a three to five times higher LAR than non-CP patients., Conclusions: This study suggests a significantly higher lifetime radiation exposure to CP patients than non-CP controls from dental radiographic procedures. Diagnostic benefits from the use of CT and CBCT in children must be justified and appropriate dose optimization strategies implemented., Clinical Relevance: The present study indicates the need for proper justification and optimization of pediatric exposures in dentistry, with a special focus on high-risk groups.

DIMITRA (dentomaxillofacial paediatric imaging: an investigation towards low-dose radiation induced risks) is a European multicenter and multidisciplinary project focused on optimizing cone-beam CT exposures for children and adolescents. With increasing use of cone-beam CT for dentomaxillofacial diagnostics, concern arises regarding radiation risks associated with this imaging modality, especially for children. Research evidence concerning cone-beam CT indications in children remains limited, while reports mention inconsistent recommendations for dose reduction. Furthermore, there is no paper using the combined and integrated information on the required indication-oriented image quality and the related patient dose levels. In this paper, therefore, the authors initiate an integrated approach based on current evidence regarding image quality and dose, together with the expertise of DIMITRA's members searching for a state of the art. The aim of this DIMITRA position statement is to provide indication-oriented and patient-specific recommendations regarding the main cone-beam CT applications in the pediatric field. The authors will review this position statement document when results regarding multidisciplinary approaches evolve, in a period of 5 years or earlier.

Objectives: Maxillary incisors (MI) are often affected by dentoalveolar injury resulting in tooth devitalization and apical periodontitis. The aim of the present study was to analyze any association between a history of dentoalveolar injury and the shape and size of the nasopalatine canal (NC) using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)., Material and Methods: Patients were allocated to the trauma group if they had a history of dentoalveolar injury and a root filling in at least one MI and/or one missing MI. As controls, 100 matched-controlled (age and gender) patients were selected. NC dimensions including length, width at midway, and diameter of incisal and nasal foramen were measured in sagittal and axial CBCT planes. Furthermore, an evaluation of NC bulging signs, apical osteolysis of MI, and its fusion with NC was performed., Results: In the trauma group (n = 96), 31.3 % had at least one missing MI, and 95.8 % had a root filling in a MI. The antero-posterior dimension of the incisive foramen (p = 0.02) and of the NC at midway (p = 0.04) was significantly larger in the trauma group. Significantly more cases with a bulging sign were found in the trauma (n = 19) than in the control group (n = 3, p = 0.001). An apical osteolysis was identified in 5.1 % of MI, and 12/38 did show a fusion with the NC., Conclusion: Wider dimensions of the NC and a bulging sign may suggest a former dentoalveolar injury to the anterior maxilla. Periapical osteolysis of central MI over 5 mm in diameter tends to fuse with the NC., Clinical Relevance: In patients with a history of dentoalveolar injury and/or apical periodontitis, the NC should be evaluated on available CBCT images. Any inflammatory processes in the neighboring teeth should be recognized and eliminated as they may initiate bulging of the NC and/or the formation of a nasopalatine duct cyst (NPDC). NC with bulging signs should be monitored clinically and radiographically to diagnose a NPDC in an early stage.

Objectives: The objectives of this study are to analyze oxidative DNA and lipid damage using salivary 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and vitamins C and E in oral lichen planus lesions, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and controls and to determine the value of salivary biomarkers in the diagnosis of oral pre-cancer and cancer patients., Materials and Methods: Unstimulated saliva was collected from a group of patients diagnosed with 40 oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), 40 oral lichen planus lesions, 40 oral leukoplakia, 40 oral submucous fibrosis, and from a control group of healthy age- and gender-matched individuals. Salivary 8-OHdG, MDA, and vitamins C and E were measured., Results: Squamous cell carcinoma and pre-cancer patients showed significantly higher levels of salivary 8-OHdG and MDA and lower levels of vitamins C and E when compared to levels in healthy normal subjects. The specificity and sensitivity of the combination of 8-OHdG, MDA, vitamin C, and vitamin E are high for the diagnosis of oral pre-cancer and SCC compared to an individual biomarker approach using either 8-OHdG, MDA, or vitamin C and vitamin E independently., Conclusions: This study indicates the presence of oxidative DNA and lipid damage in pre-cancerous and SCC patients. It is postulated that the mechanism may have a significant link to carcinogenesis in oral cancer. Detection of salivary 8-OHdG, MDA, vitamin C, and vitamin E can act as suitable diagnostic biomarkers of oral pre-cancer and cancer., Clinical Relevance: Of clinical importance is that salivary 8-OHdG, MDA, vitamin C, and vitamin E could play a significant role in oral cancer and pre-cancer patients and could therefore be useful for diagnosis in patients with oral lichen planus lesions, oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Objectives: Leptin levels are associated with appetite and energy expenditure in healthy individuals. The present study aims to evaluate serum and salivary leptin concentrations in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa., Materials and Methods: Enrolled participants in this study included 41 patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa and 40 healthy control patients. Serum leptin levels were measured via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method in all subjects and reported in units of nanograms per millilitre. Salivary leptin levels were measured by a highly sensitive and specific non-equilibrium version of a dedicated custom radioimmunoassay., Results: A significant reduction in salivary and serum leptin levels in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa was observed in comparison to control subjects. In addition, a significant correlation was shown between serum and salivary leptin levels on one hand and body mass index, with various histopathological and TNM (tumour nodes metastasis) staging variants of squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa on another. A highly significant correlation was shown between salivary and serum leptin levels in both groups., Conclusion: The results of this study demonstrate a possible mechanism of salivary and serum leptin levels in squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa., Clinical Relevance: Salivary leptin might play a role in squamous cell carcinoma of the buccal mucosa.

Objectives: The present longitudinal study aimed to compare changes in the lower third molar position and nerve involvement in orthodontically treated patients with and without premolar extractions., Materials and Methods: The sample consisted of pretreatment and posttreatment panoramic radiographs of 349 orthodontically treated patients subdivided into a non-extraction group (n = 263) and an extraction group (n = 86). Patients did not present dental agenesis in the lower jaw. The mandibular third molar position was assessed by classifying the teeth according to Pell and Gregory, Winter, and two new classifications. The relation between third molars and the mandibular canal was assessed based on Whaites' classification. The development of third molars was evaluated based on Demirjian's classification. Data were analyzed using frequency analysis, Mann-Whitney U test, Fisher's exact test, and chi-square testing., Results: There was a significant difference (p < 0.05) in eruption space between pretreatment and posttreatment panoramic radiographs for both groups. For pretreatment panoramic radiographs, chi-square tests revealed no significant differences between both groups. For posttreatment panoramic radiographs, significant differences appeared for extraction versus non-extraction patients for Pell and Gregory horizontal classification, Winter's classification, and a potential relationship between third molars and the alveolar nerve (p < 0.05)., Conclusions: Orthodontic treatment without premolar extractions shows significantly more eruption problems of wisdom teeth than those with premolar extractions. Third molars in the non-extraction group were more frequently found in close relationship to the mandibular nerve compared to the extraction group., Clinical Relevance: Orthodontists should be aware of the effect of orthodontic treatment on the development of the lower third molars.

Objectives: Renal osteodystrophy (RO) are skeletal abnormalities seen in patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT). This study aims to evaluate the effects of RO using panoramic radiography parameters. Furthermore, the correlation between these parameters and parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels was tested., Materials and Methods: Qualitative (mandibular cortical index/trabecular bone pattern) and quantitative parameters (mental index/calcification and resorption foci) were applied from panoramic radiographs of chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients and controls. Frequency distribution and descriptive analysis were used to compare the results of both groups. Spearman's correlation coefficient evaluated the correlation between serum PTH levels of CKD patients and the radiographic parameters. Intra- and interobserver agreement was tested using the intraclass correlation coefficient and kappa index., Results: Intra- and interobserver agreement was respectively excellent (0.81-1.00) and good (0.61-0.80). Qualitative parameters demonstrate significant difference compared with the control group. Mean mental index was lower in patients with CKD (3.17 ± 1.35 mm), but the difference was not significant. Calcification/resorption foci (3.63 ± 2.07) of CKD patients were significantly more present than in the control group (p = 0.0001). PTH levels were correlated with mental index, mandibular cortical index and trabecular bone pattern (respectively, 0.0034, 0.0315, and 0.0370)., Conclusions: RO presented a number of characteristic bone metabolic effects in the jaws that could be observed on panoramic radiographs. Radiographs of CKD patients demonstrate significantly more calcification and resorption., Clinical Relevance: The mental index, mandibular cortical index, and trabecular bone pattern are good parameters for evaluating the effects of RO on severe secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Objectives: The primary objective of the study was to compare the postoperative complications following surgical removal of impacted third molars using panoramic radiography (PAN) images- and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT)-based surgeries for "moderate-risk" cases of impacted third mandibular molars. The secondary objective was to compare the reliability of CBCT with that of PAN in preoperative radiographic determination of the position of the third molar, number of roots, and apical divergence., Materials and Methods: A randomized controlled multicenter trial was conducted to compare the surgical complications of PAN- and CBCT-based surgeries of impacted third molars. The sample consisted of impacted third molars from 256 patients with a close relation to the inferior alveolar nerve (IAN). Exclusion criteria were "no risk" and "high risk" of damage to the IAN based on the assessment of the panoramic radiograph. Patients were divided into two groups: the CBCT group (n = 126) and the PAN group (n = 130). The incidences of IAN sensory disturbance and other postoperative complications were recorded for each group at 7 days after surgery. Statistical analysis (kappa values) was used to compare the diagnoses of five trained dentomaxillofacial radiologists and to relate radiologic diagnoses to perioperative findings. Logistic regression was used to determine whether the imaging modality influenced occurrence of postoperative complications., Results: Two extractions (1.5%) in the CBCT group and five (3.8%) in the PAN group resulted in IAN sensory disturbance (p = 0.45). Logistic regression models did not show that CBCT modality decreased postoperative complications following surgical removal of impacted third molars. Yet, CBCT revealed the number of roots and apical divergence of the roots more reliably than panoramic radiographs., Conclusions: CBCT was not better than panoramic radiography in predicting postoperative complications for moderate-risk cases of impacted third mandibular molars. Nonetheless, a CBCT buccolingual view can accurately confirm the number of roots and root morphology of the third molar better than PAN., Clinical Relevance: For management of postoperative complications for moderate-risk cases of impacted mandibular third molars, careful preoperative radiographic planning followed by an atraumatic surgical approach seems to be valuable, irrespective of the 2D or 3D nature of the preoperative images.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess whether and how the information obtained by means of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) on maxillary posterior teeth differs from that obtained by panoramic radiography., Materials and Method: From 157 subjects (mean age 48 years, range 19-84 years; 89 females) referred to the oral imaging center, a pair of panoramic and CBCT images was selected for further analysis. Both imaging modalities were analyzed to determine the topographic relationship of maxillary teeth to the sinus floor. Pathologic conditions, apical periodontitis, and presence of soft tissue thickening were also examined with both techniques., Results: CBCT showed an intimate relationship of the first and second molar with the maxillary sinus in 54 and 38%, respectively. Thirty-nine apical periodontitis lesions causing reactive changes in the maxillary sinus were detected by CBCT, while just six of them were diagnosed with panoramic imaging. A total of 26 teeth with apical extension to the maxillary sinus were detected with CBCT, from which two could be identified with panoramic radiography., Conclusion: This study emphasizes that anatomical and pathological involvement of the maxillary sinus in relation to posterior teeth is considerably high. It is of clinical importance that the 3D nature of CBCT imaging allowed a better assessment of the relationship between the maxillary sinus and posterior root apices compared to the low detection on panoramic radiographs., Clinical Relevance: CBCT imaging can be a valuable adjunct in radioanatomical and radiodiagnostic observations in the posterior maxilla. It may better visualize maxillary sinus involvement for posterior upper teeth than panoramic radiography.

The objective of this paper is to develop a novel digital subtraction technique for serial intra-oral radiography, which would allow the detection of subtle variations in grey values. Digital images of the maxilla of a dried human skull and of a fresh pig mandible were acquired using intra-oral photostimulable phosphor plates (Digora FMX, Soredex, Helsinki) with an aluminium calibration stepwedge incorporated in the filmholder. Exposures were made with an X-ray tube for intra-oral radiography (Prostyle Intra, Planmeca, Helsinki). During pilot testing, parameter settings were adapted to reach an optimal contrast. Exposures were repeated within a 1-week interval to determine the test-retest reliability of the development. After in vitro and in vivo testing, the exposure technique and software development were used to evaluate its applicability in a pilot clinical case. Although parameter settings remained stable during the in vitro studies, the clinical exposures yielded non-linear digital images, thus, not readily suitable for data acquisition and comparison of the regions of interest. To allow further analysis, image processing was carried out using self-developed software for semi-automated linearisation and optimised contrast normalisation. This processing significantly increased the precise quantisation of jawbone density and the assessment of subtle bone density changes in arbitrarily selected regions of interest of in vivo exposures. The clinical applicability of the technique is demonstrated in a pilot case. It was demonstrated that minute densitometric deviations could be detected. The present technique and image processing may allow the quantification of jawbone density.