Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Vol 8, Iss 1, Pp 1-4 (2020)
Subjects
alveolar bone density, computer-assisted detection, computer-assisted diagnosis, intraoral radiography, mineral density, Dentistry, RK1-715, Medical physics. Medical radiology. Nuclear medicine, and R895-920
Abstract
Background: As bone mineral is one of the major determinants of bone strength, its exact measurement should be useful for the diagnosis of osteoporosis, as well as for the prediction of fracture risk and monitoring of therapeutically response. Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate computer-assisted measurement of radiographical alveolar bone density using intraoral radiographs, especially comparison between men and women in young adults. Materials and Methods: Forty-two patients in young adults (20 men and 22 women; age 22–25 years; and mean age 23.2 years) of the mandibular premolar region who underwent intraoral radiographs with imaging plate (IP) detector and computer analysis system “DentalSCOPE” were included in this study. The DentalSCOPE had a special X-ray beam indicator in which a special calcium carbonate reference object was embedded. IP-based digital X-ray images were input into the DentalSCOPE system. The DentalSCOPE software measured the image density of the reference object automatically and calculated the mineral density value of an arbitrary region of interest (ROI). The mineral density of a rectangular ROI in the periapical region of mandibular premolars was evaluated. The age and alveolar bone density were compared between men and women using the Mann–Whitney U-test. P
The development of computer-aided detection/diagnosis (CAD) systems for dental imaging is progressing. One expected use of CAD is to detect radiological signs of medical systemic disease in the panoramic screening radiograph. The target diseases for CAD include osteoporosis, arteriosclerosis, and maxillary sinusitis. CAD is also useful in the detection and evaluation of dental and maxillofacial lesions. Identifying alveolar bone resorption due to periodontitis and radiolucent jaw lesions (such as radicular and dentigerous cysts) are important goals for CAD. CAD can be applied not only to panoramic radiography but also to dental cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images. Linking of CAD and teleradiology will be an important issue.
