Cone Beam CT Wins the Race for Evaluating Alveolar Bone Grafts
Research By: Yiou Guo, DDS | Jue Wang, DDS
Post Date: December 17, 2023 | Publish Date: Dec. 17, 2023
Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics | Top Scientific Achievement
Cleft lip and palate is one of the most common birth defects worldwide. The surgical procedure used to treat this condition—secondary alveolar bone grafting (SABG)—can be complex, costly and comes with risks, thus assessing its success is critical.
Periapical (PA) radiographs and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) are two methods currently used to evaluate SABG. PA radiographs are affordable and require less exposure to X-rays, but this method provides only a 2D image of the cleft area. CBCT has gained popularity because it creates a 3D reconstruction to examine anatomy. However, CBCT exposes patients to higher degrees of radiation and is relatively expensive, thus raising the question: is the better resolution of CBCT images worth taking the risk?
To answer this question, researchers at Cincinnati Children’s led by first author Yiou Guo, DDS, and corresponding author Jue Wang, DDS, PhD, evaluated both PA and CBCT images from patients who had undergone SABG. The team found little agreement in bone quality grading of alveolar bone sections between the two imaging modalities. Specifically, CBCT rated alveolar bone sections lower than PA assessments for most samples, signifying that CBCT has better sensitivity to detect poor bone grafts.
“It is always important to have the most accurate way to evaluate our clinical outcomes. And it is equally important to choose our tools properly, especially when radiographic images are involved. We are hoping that this study provides quantitative evidence for informed decision making when choosing appropriate radiographs to assess secondary bone grafting outcome in patients with cleft lip and palate,” says Wang.
Co-authors from Cincinnati Children’s also included Kiersten Woodyard De Brito, MPH, Elizabeth Gosnell, DMD, MS, and Qin Sun, MPH.
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| Original title: | Radiographic Assessment of Cleft Alveolar Bone Defects: A Preliminary Comparison of Periapical and Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images |
| Published in: | The Cleft Palate Craniofacial Journal |
| Publish date: | Dec. 17, 2023 |
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The Research Horizons blog features news and insights about the latest discoveries and innovations developed by the scientists of Cincinnati Children's. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
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