Accuracy of digital intraoral periapical radiography and cone-beam computed tomography in the measurement of intrabony defects: A comparative study

Abstract

Background: Periodontal disease is an inflammatory process resulting in clinical attachment loss (CAL), pocket depth (PD), and resulting in the loss of alveolar bone. Diagnostic imaging provides an adjunctive guidelines to assess the alveolar bone height in addition to clinical parameters such as PD and CAL. Aims and Objectives: The objectives of the study are to determine whether the digital intraoral periapical (IOPA) radiographs can be reliably used as an alternative to cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in the diagnosis of intrabony defects. Materials and Methods: A total of 25 patients with the presence of intrabony defects were included in the study. All the radiographic parameters were recorded using digital IOPA and CBCT. Various intrabony defect morphological characteristics such as height, depth, width, and angle were measured and compared between digital IOPA and CBCT. Statistics: The data was subjected to statistical analysis. Mann-Whitney U-test was performed for interexaminer comparison and independent t-test for intergroup comparison. Results: The mean intergroup comparison values between digital IOPA and CBCT in relation to defect width were 3.22 ± 1.10 and 3.20 ± 1.16, respectively (P = 0.970), in relation to defect depth were 7.71 ± 2.3 and 7.91 ± 2.4, respectively (P = 0.769), in relation to defect height were 3.80 ± 1.20 and 3.90 ± 1.2, respectively (P = 0.794), and in relation to defect angle were 34.82 ± 8.4 and 35.28 ± 0.8.6, respectively (P = 0.851). Conclusion: With the drawbacks of such as high radiation exposure, unavailability, and high financial cost, digital IOPA with digital software can be used as an alternative to CBCT for measuring intrabony defect morphological characteristics in periodontitis patients.