Diagnosis of Dental Cracks by Digital Bitewing Imaging: A Laboratory Study

Safa A. Al-Shami, Postgraduate MDs student, Department of Periodontology, Oral medicine, oral Diagnosis, and Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, EgyptFollow
Bassant H. Mowafey, Assistant Professor, Department of Oral medicine, Periodontology, oral Diagnosis, and Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Egypt
Hamdi H. Hamdan, Assistant Professor, Department of Operative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Egypt
Jilan M. Youssef, Professor, Department of Oral medicine, Periodontology, oral Diagnosis, and Oral Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Mansoura University, Egypt

Article Type

Original Article

Section/Category

Oral Medicine

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of using digital bitewing imaging technique for the diagnosis of dental cracks. Materials and Methods: In this study, 60 specimens of extracted human teeth were collected. Teeth were divided into two equal groups; control group and study group. Cracks were artificially created on the study group by repeated thermal cycling method using boiled water and liquid nitrogen. Then teeth were mixed in a random manner and then placed in a waxed arch block to simulate the human geometrical pattern in imaging. The roots of the teeth were embedded from 2 mm below the cemento-enamel junction to the root apex. Teeth cracks were examined by digital bitewing radiography and three observers evaluated the cracks independently and recorded the results respectively. Results: The validity of digital bitewing technique values showed poor level of accuracy on crack detection by 65.0 %. Conclusion: Within the limitation of this study, digital bitewing images showed poor level of accuracy so, would be considered of limited value in detecting tooth cracks.

How to Cite This Article

Al-Shami S A, Mowafey B H, Hamdan H H, Youssef J M. Diagnosis of Dental Cracks by Digital Bitewing Imaging: A Laboratory Study. Mans J Dent. 2022; 9(1): 19-21.
Available at: https://doi.org/10.21608/mjd.2022.226771