Accuracy of CBCT images in the volumetric assessment of residual root canal filling material: Effect of voxel size

Abstract

Aims: Our aim was to compare three different voxel sizes of CBCT images for the determination of residual filling material volume in root canals when compared with micro CT. Material and Methods: Forty-two root canals of 14 extracted human maxillary molar teeth were retreated by using ProFile((R)) instruments. Images were obtained after retreatment by using ProMax 3D Max CBCT at 3 different voxel sizes (1) High resolution (0.1 mm); (2) High definition (0.15 mm); and (3) Normal resolution (0.2 mm). Two observers measured volumes of residual filling materials in exported CBCT images by means of 3D Doctor Software. Micro CT measurements were served as gold standard. Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Test were used for the comparison of CBCT and micro CT measurements. Statistical significance was set at P < 0.05. Results: No statistically differences were found between the two observers for all measurements (P 0.05). There were no significant differences among different CBCT voxel sizes used (0.1 mm, 0.15 mm, and 0.2 mm) (P 0.05). The Spearman correlation coefficients between CBCT at different voxel sizes significantly highly correlated with micro CT measurements for each observer (P < 0.05). Furthermore, no significant differences were found between the measurements obtained by the two observers in consideration to root canal location (P 0.05). Conclusion: CBCT images may provide useful information in the volumetric assessment of the amount of residual filling material in root canals for retreatment procedures.