Quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections

Ryo Mizuhashi; Yoshihiro Sugawara; Makoto Oohashi; Fumi Mizuhashi; Hisato Saegusa; Ichiro Ogura

doi:10.4103/jomr.jomr_5_21

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Year : 2021 | Volume : 9 | Issue : 1 | Page : 17-19

Quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections

Ryo Mizuhashi¹, Yoshihiro Sugawara¹, Makoto Oohashi², Fumi Mizuhashi³, Hisato Saegusa¹, Ichiro Ogura⁴
¹ Comprehensive Dental Care, The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Niigata, Japan
² Dental Anesthesia and General Health Management, The Nippon Dental University Niigata Hospital, Niigata, Japan
³ Department of Removable Prosthodontics, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Niigata, Japan
⁴ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, Niigata, Japan

Date of Submission	10-Mar-2021
Date of Decision	20-Mar-2021
Date of Acceptance	23-Mar-2021
Date of Web Publication	20-May-2021

Correspondence Address:
Ichiro Ogura
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, The Nippon Dental University School of Life Dentistry at Niigata, 1-8 Hamaura-cho, Chuo-ku, Niigata, Niigata 951-8580
Japan

Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None

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DOI: 10.4103/jomr.jomr_5_21

Abstract

Background: Quantitative evaluation of radiolucent and radiopaque is difficult for intraoral radiography. Aims: This study was designed to estimate quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections. Materials and Methods: Ten patients with periapical inflammatory disease of the mandibular molar region were analyzed using a computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections. The system measures the image density and calculates the bone mineral density (BMD) of an optional region. The periapical region of mandibular molars was compared to the sclerotic bone reaction resulting from the periapical inflammatory disease with the normal periapical region. P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant. Results: The BMD of the sclerotic bone reaction resulting from the periapical inflammatory disease (1.14 ± 0.08 g/cm²) were significantly higher than those of the normal periapical region (0.94 ± 0.06 g/cm², P = 0.000). Conclusions: The computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections can be useful for quantitative periapical radiography.

Keywords: Computer-assisted, diagnostic imaging, image processing, radiography

How to cite this article:
Mizuhashi R, Sugawara Y, Oohashi M, Mizuhashi F, Saegusa H, Ogura I. Quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections. J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2021;9:17-9

How to cite this URL:
Mizuhashi R, Sugawara Y, Oohashi M, Mizuhashi F, Saegusa H, Ogura I. Quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections. J Oral Maxillofac Radiol [serial online] 2021 [cited 2023 Mar 28];9:17-9. Available from: https://www.joomr.org/text.asp?2021/9/1/17/316485

Introduction

Intraoral radiography is the basis of diagnostic imaging for the general dentist. The internal appearance of jaw lesions is classified according to radiolucent, radiopaque, or mixed radiolucent and radiopaque. However, the quantitative evaluation of radiolucent and radiopaque is difficult for intraoral radiography.

Bone mineral density (BMD) is one of the major parameters of bone strength, and the evaluation is important for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.^[1] Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry systems provide accurate methods for the assessment of BMD.^[2],[3],[4]

Micro-densitometric analysis of interdental bone structure is used to measure BMD.^[5],[6] It is important in the field of dentistry to develop a simple method for analysis of the alveolar BMD. Recently, a computer-assisted diagnosis of BMD with intraoral projections was developed as “DentalSCOPE.”^[7] The system may be able to analyze the BMD of the sclerotic bone reaction resulting from the periapical inflammatory disease. This study was designed to estimate quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections.

Materials and Methods

Patient population

Ten patients with periapical inflammatory disease of the mandibular molar region (3 men, 7 women; age 40–83 years, mean age 66.4 years) were analyzed using a computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections (DentalSCOPE; Media Co, Tokyo, Japan) at our university hospital from May 2020 to August 2020. This study was approved by the research ethics committee of our university (ECNG-R-318).

Image acquisition and analysis

Intraoral radiography was performed with intraoral X-ray unit (Heliodent Plus; Sirona Dental Systems, Tokyo, Japan), and computed radiography was performed with imaging plate and scanner (VistaScan; YOSHIDA, Tokyo, Japan) following our protocol.^[7]

The system “DentalSCOPE” measures the image density and calculates the BMD of an optional region following our protocol.^[7] The periapical region of mandibular molars was compared sclerotic bone reaction resulting from the periapical inflammatory disease with normal periapical region [Figure 1]a [Figure 1]b [Figure 1]c.

Figure 1: The DentalSCOPE software measures the image density of the reference object automatically and calculates the bone mineral density value of an arbitrary region of interest. (a) Premeasurement of mandibular molar region, (b) region of interest 1: Normal periapical region, (c) region of interest 2: Sclerotic bone reaction resulting from the periapical inflammatory disease

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Statistical analysis

Statistical analyses of BMD were performed using Mann–Whitney U-test (SPSS version 26; IBM Japan, Tokyo, Japan). P < 0.05 were considered statistically significant.

Results

Quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections is shown in [Table 1]. The BMD of the sclerotic bone reaction resulting from the periapical inflammatory disease (1.14 ± 0.08 g/cm²) were significantly higher than those of the normal periapical region (0.94 ± 0.06 g/cm², P = 0.000).

Table 1: Quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections

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Discussion

It is important in the field of dentistry to develop a simple method for the analysis of BMD with intraoral radiography. This study indicated that DentalSCOPE can be useful for quantitative periapical radiography.

Nakamoto et al.^[8] indicated that a computer-assisted detection/diagnosis (CAD) system with panoramic radiography can identify postmenopausal women with low skeletal BMD or osteoporosis. Furthermore, Kavitha et al.^[9] established a CAD system with panoramic radiography for identifying postmenopausal women with low-skeletal BMD. They showed that those systems were screening for osteoporosis. We consider that the DentalSCOPE system may be useful for the screen of osteoporosis. Furthermore, we indicated that the BMD of the sclerotic bone reaction resulting from the periapical inflammatory disease (1.14 ± 0.08 g/cm²) were significantly higher than those of the normal periapical region (0.94 ± 0.06 g/cm², P = 0.000). We consider that the quantitative evaluation of radiolucent and radiopaque can be got by DentalSCOPE.

Intraoral radiography is essential for evaluating the presence of dental diseases. Therefore, we consider that DentalSCOPE should be useful for follow-up of patients with dental diseases. The quantitative evaluation of intraoral radiography should be useful for the general dentist.

Conclusions

We evaluated quantitative periapical radiography using computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections. The computer-assisted measurement for intraoral projections can be useful for quantitative periapical radiography.

Financial support and sponsorship

This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number JP 18K09754.

Conflicts of interest

There are no conflicts of interest.

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