Prevalence of pulp stones in molars based on bitewing and periapical radiographs.

Objective: To determine prevalence of pulp stones in molars of patients at the Institute of Dentistry Faculty of Medicine Vilnius University and to evaluate the association of pulp stones and gender, patient age, tooth condition.

Material And Methods: Intraoral radiographs were reviewed using the Romexis program and pulp stones were assessed in molars.  Teeth were distributed into intact and non-intact.

Estimating cancer risk from dental cone-beam CT exposures based on skin dosimetry.

The aim of this study was to measure entrance skin doses on patients undergoing cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) examinations, to establish conversion factors between skin and organ doses, and to estimate cancer risk from CBCT exposures. 266 patients (age 8-83) were included, involving three imaging centres. CBCT scans were acquired using the SCANORA 3D (Soredex, Tuusula, Finland) and NewTom 9000 (QR, Verona, Italy).

Variation in costs of cone beam CT examinations among healthcare systems.

Objectives: To analyse the costs of cone beam CT (CBCT) in different healthcare systems for patients with different clinical conditions.

Methods: Costs were calculated for CBCT performed in Cluj (Romania), Leuven (Belgium), Malmö (Sweden) and Vilnius (Lithuania) on patients with (i) a maxillary canine with eruption disturbance, (ii) an area with tooth loss prior to implant treatment or (iii) a lower wisdom tooth planned for removal. The costs were calculated using an approach based on the identification, measurement and valuation of all resources used in the delivery of the service that combined direct costs (capital equipment, accommodation, labour) with indirect costs (patients' and accompanying persons' time, "out of pocket" costs for examination fee and visits).

Observer performance based on marginal bone tissue visibility in Scanora panoramic radiography and posterior bitewing radiography.

Objectives: To evaluate image quality for marginal bone tissue assessment on panoramic radiographs taken with the Scanora dental programme and on posterior bitewing radiographs.

Methods: Panoramic and bitewing radiographs were taken of 96 patients. Six observers rated marginal bone level visibility as excellent, acceptable, or unacceptable.

Apical periodontitis in root filled teeth associated with the quality of root fillings.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to investigate the technical quality of root fillings in root filled teeth, their association with periapical status and prevalence of apical periodontitis.

Material And Methods: The sample consisted of 83 subjects, presenting consecutively as new patients seeking dental care (prosthetic, endodontic and cariologic treatment) in the years 2005/2006. Clinical and radiographic examination on each patient was performed using the scoring system (Periapical index (PAI)) proposed by Ørstavik et al.