Comparison of Trabecular Bone in Impacted and Normal Erupted Unilateral Maxillary Canine Teeth Using Cone-Beam Computed Tomography in Patients Scheduled for Orthodontic Treatment at the Universitas Airlangga Dental and Oral Hospital.

BACKGROUND

Cone-beam computed tomography is being utilized in more clinical contexts and determining bone density with this method is becoming more important. Dentists, particularly dentomaxillofacial radiologists, orthodontists, and oral surgeons, must have a solid understanding of gray value. The gray values acquired from cone-beam computed tomography images are used to assess dental implant bone density, diagnose dental ankylosis, and diagnose and differentiate pathological lesions.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the difference in the gray value of the trabecular bone in the impacted and normal erupted maxillary canine teeth using cone computed tomography.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the cone-beam computed tomography images of patients scheduled for orthodontic treatment at the Universitas Airlangga Dental and Oral Hospital. On cross-sectional cone-beam computed tomography images, the region of interest determination of 5 mm in the area was placed in the trabecular bone and the gray value measurements were collected using Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (OnDemand3D™) dental software. The images were categorized by type of impacted canine teeth after assessing the gray values of all the teeth. Using images on the mesial, distal, buccal, and palatal areas, gray values of impacted and non-impacted teeth were compared. We used the SPSS 24 software.

RESULTS

From a total of 13 patient radiographs, we found types I (6/13), II (6/13), and VII (1/13). The mean pixel values of impacted maxillary unilateral canine teeth were 1972.92 (mesial), 2016.55 (distal), 1990.66 (buccal), and 1904.39 (palatal). The mean pixel values of normal erupted maxillary canines were 1754.93 (mesial), 1710.53 (distal), 1852.94 (buccal), and 1674.49 (palatal). There were significant differences between impacted and normal erupted maxillary canines: mesial (P = 0.018), distal (P = 0.000), buccal (P = 0.003), and palatal (P = 0.036).

CONCLUSION

There were statistically significant differences between affected and unaffected gray values in the canines in FOV size 51 × 55 mm. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the gray values in trabecular bone of unilateral maxillary impacted canines and normal erupted canines on the mesial, distal, buccal, and palatal sides.