Accuracy of extraoral bite-wing radiography in detecting proximal caries and crestal bone loss.

Background: Extraoral bite-wing (EB) radiography is an imaging technology used in dentistry. The authors conducted an in vivo study comparing the accuracy of intraoral bitewing (IB) radiographs and EB radiographs for proximal caries and bone loss diagnosis.

Methods: The authors recruited 116 patients who received IB radiographs to receive EB radiographs.

A clinical comparison of extraoral panoramic and intraoral radiographic modalities for detecting proximal caries and visualizing open posterior interproximal contacts.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare extraoral panoramic bitewings (BWs) to intraoral photostimulable phosphor (PSP) plate BWs for the detection of proximal surface caries and to establish if there was any difference between extraoral BWs, intraoral BWs and panoramic radiographs in visualizing open posterior interproximal contacts.

Methods: Extraoral panoramic and intraoral BW images were acquired on each of 20 patients, resulting in 489 total non-restored, readable surfaces that were evaluated by 4 observers. The ANOVA analysis to determine diagnostic variability between and within each subject was utilized.

The cadmium telluride photon counting sensor in panoramic radiology: gray value separation and its potential application for bone density evaluation.

Objective: To investigate whether bone mineral density can be evaluated more accurately using a panoramic device with a new cadmium telluride photon-counting sensor and software than 2 panoramic devices with a conventional semiconductor sensor.

Study Design: A fiduciary test object with several known levels of hydroxy apatite mineral concentration was placed in a phantom on the mandibular occlusal plane. Panoramic images were acquired by changing the position of the test object within the dental arch.

Trigeminal neuralgia: a retrospective study of 188 Thai cases.

Objective: To describe the clinical characteristics and treatment of trigeminal neuralgia (TN) in a group of Thai patients.

Materials And Methods: Records of 188 patients with TN were reviewed retrospectively for patient demographics, the characteristics of the pain and treatment modalities.

Results: Of the 188 patients, 37.

Pre-clinical evaluation of a new dental panoramic radiographic system based on tomosynthesis method.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to compare the image generated by a classic panoramic machine equipped with a cadmium telluride sensor capable of digital tomosynthesis and special software with images produced by other popular panoramic X-ray machines using a charge-coupled device and native software for image capture.

Methods: Panoramic images were made using a phantom of a human skull on Planmeca ProMax, Planmeca EC Proline, Kodak 8000 and PC-1000. With the last machine we used the PanoACT® software to adjust the entire arch and to adjust the image in selected regions of interest (ROIs).

Oral mucosal lesions in denture wearers.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of oral mucosal lesions (OMLs) and denture-related mucosal lesions (DMLs) in denture wearers and to co-relate the prevalence with age, gender, type of denture and any systemic conditions.

Materials And Methods: Dental records of 380 denture wearers were retrospectively reviewed for OMLs and DMLs.

Results: We found 45% of the denture wearers had DMLs and 60.

Imaging modalities to access bony tumors and hyperplasic reactions of the temporomandibular joint.

Benign and malignant tumors in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) are rare. However, when a patient presents with clinical findings such as altered occlusion or facial asymmetry, a morphologic alteration in the condyle should be ruled out. The differential diagnosis for benign hyperplastic bony lesions in the TMJ should include condylar hyperplasia, osteochondroma, osteoma, chondroma, and osteoblastoma.

Development of a new dental panoramic radiographic system based on a tomosynthesis method.

The objective of this study was to develop a new practical method to reconstruct a high-quality panoramic image in which radiographers would be free from the onerous task of correctly locating the patient's jaws within the image layer of the panoramic unit. In addition, dentists would be able to freely select any panoramic plane to be reconstructed after the acquisition of the raw scan data. A high-speed data acquisition device was used with a CdTe (cadmium telluride) semiconductor detector and a sophisticated digital signal-processing technique based on tomosynthesis was developed.

Oral squamous cell carcinoma: a clinicopathological study of 342 Thai cases.

Aim: To conduct a clinicopathological review of oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and to analyze it with respect to gender, age at diagnosis, clinical presentation, lesion location, and histological grading.

Methods And Materials: Information on the clinicopathological characteristics of SCC was obtained from pathology reports of 342 cases.

Results: The male to female ratio was 1:1 and the incidence increased with age.

Antifungal activity of Morinda citrifolia fruit extract against Candida albicans.

Objective: The objective of the study was to investigate the antifungal activity of Morinda citrifolia fruit extract on Candida albicans.

Materials And Methods: Juice extract from M. citrifolia fruit was lyophilized and used in antifungal testing.

Evaluation of high-resolution cone beam computed tomography in the detection of simulated interradicular bone lesions.

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to assess the accuracy of limited-volume high-resolution cone beam CT (CBCT) in the detection of periodontal bone loss.

Methods: 163 simulated periodontal lesions of different depths were created in dried human hemimandibles. Specimens were imaged using the intraoral paralleling technique and limited-volume CBCT (3DX Accuitomo; Morita Co.

Salivary secretion, mucin concentrations and Candida carriage in HIV-infected patients.

Objectives: To test whether the submandibular/sublingual (SMSL) salivary secretion, mucin concentration and candida carriage status were altered in human immunodeficiency virus-positive (HIV+) patients.

Subjects And Methods: SMSL saliva collected from 48 HIV-infected and 31 HIV-negative men were analyzed for flow rates, total protein and mucin concentrations. Salivary cultures were performed for Candida assessment.

Relationship between density variability and imaging volume size in cone-beam computerized tomographic scanning of the maxillofacial region: an in vitro study.

Objective: In limited-volume cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) imaging, projection data discontinuity caused by maxillofacial hard tissue structures outside the reconstructed volume are reported to affect the density value of the hard and soft tissue structures within the volume. The intensity of this effect is purported to be related to the size of the imaging volume. The aim of this study was to characterize the effect of the size of the scanned volume on density values in vitro.

Accuracy of cone beam computed tomography in determining the location of the genial tubercle.

Objective: To determine the accuracy of cone beam computed tomography (CT) to predict the location of the genial tubercle.

Study Design And Setting: Cadaver study for anatomic analysis of 17 adult human cadaver heads. Each skull/cadaver head underwent radiographic imaging with cone beam CT and cadaver dissection.

Effects of image artifacts on gray-value density in limited-volume cone-beam computerized tomography.

Objective: An in vitro study was designed to investigate the influence of projection data discontinuity-related artifacts in limited-volume cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) imaging of the jaws.

Study Design: Test objects were positioned in 4 patterns in a water-filled phantom as follows: bimandible and vertebrae, bimandible, left mandible and vertebrae, and left mandible. The CT imaging of the left molar region was performed using image intensifier (II)- and flat panel detector (FPD)-based CBCT scanners.

Image artifact in dental cone-beam CT.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the appearance and possible cause of an artifact seen in limited-volume cone-beam CT imaging.

Methods: A water-filled plastic cylinder was used as a phantom of the head. A test object was constructed as a bone-equivalent phantom to be imaged.

Condylar head remodeling following mandibular setback osteotomy for prognathism: a comparative study of different imaging modalities.

Purpose: Condylar remodeling, which develops after mandibular setback osteotomy, was evaluated and compared in CT, plain film radiographs, and MR images acquired postoperatively.

Methods: Thirty-nine patients treated with sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO) and 46 patients treated with intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy (IVRO) were studied. Remodeling as seen in the images and the diagnostic agreement between imaging modalities was evaluated.

Geographic tongue: clinical characteristics of 188 cases.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical characteristics and assess other factors associated with geographic tongue in Thailand. One hundred and eighty-eight Thais with geographic tongue and 188 controls were interviewed regarding their medical history, symptoms, and the nature and migratory pattern of their lesions. Variations in the clinical appearance, lesion location, and any associated tongue fissures were recorded.

3D-CT evaluation of facial asymmetry.

Objective: Recently, 3-dimensional-computed tomography (3D-CT) imaging has been used in the diagnosis and surgical treatment planning of patients with craniofacial deformities. The present authors have developed a 3D-CT imaging procedure for a 3-dimensional coordinate point evaluation system to assess and diagnose patients with facial asymmetry.

Study Design: The CT data of 16 subjects was selected retrospectively as the control group from patients who had undergone CT examinations to diagnose conditions other than maxillofacial deformities.

3D CT evaluation of masseter muscle morphology after setback osteotomy for mandibular prognathism.

Objective: Following mandibular setback osteotomy, changes in the direction, length, and cross-sectional area of the masseter muscle were studied by means of computerized tomography (CT) images generated with a 3-dimensional (3D) reconstructive technique.

Study Design: Pre- and postoperative CT examinations were performed on 17 prognathic patients treated by sagittal split ramus osteotomy with rigid osteosynthesis and 13 patients treated by intraoral vertical ramus osteotomy without osteosynthesis. The pre- and postoperative masseter muscle direction and length were evaluated using 3D CT images observed from a lateral viewing angle.

Medical health and medication use in elderly dental patients.

The objectives of this study were to obtain information on the medical conditions and medications used among elderly Thai dental patients and to investigate the relationship between the findings in relation to age and sex. The information regarding medical conditions and medication use was obtained from interviews of 510 dental patients aged 60 years and older. The incidence of medical conditions was 82.

Oral mucosal conditions in elderly dental patients.

Objectives: The goals of this study were as follows: to obtain baseline information on the incidence of oral mucosal conditions in a population of elderly Thai patients and to investigate differences in the presentation of these findings in relation to age, sex and the wearing of dentures.

Subjects And Methods: The incidence of oral mucosal conditions was determined by the clinical examination of a sample of 500 Thai patients aged 60 years and older.

Results: The overall incidence of oral mucosal conditions was 83.

Maxillary sinus floor in edentulous and dentate patients.

To compare the depth of the maxillary sinus floor on panoramic radiographs between the edentulous and dentate patients. Thirty panoramic radiographs of edentulous female patients and 47 panoramic radiographs of female dentate patients were used for the sample. To measure the depth of the maxillary sinus floor, the outline of the maxillary sinus on the panoramic radiograph was traced on transparent paper.

Buccal and palatal exostoses: prevalence and concurrence with tori.

Objectives: The aims of this study were to investigate the prevalence and location of oral exostoses and the concurrence of buccal and palatal exostoses with tori.

Study Design: With clinical inspection and palpation, 960 Thais were examined for the presence or absence of torus palatinus (TP), torus mandibularis (TM), and exostoses.

Results: Of the 960 subjects studied, 26.