Microcomputed tomography used in the analysis of the morphology of root canals in extracted wisdom teeth

Microcomputed tomography used in the analysis of the morphology of root canals in extracted wisdom teeth
Accepted 13 May 2005
B. Guillaumea, J.P. Lacostea, N. Gaboritb, G. Brossardb, A. Cruardb, M.F. Basl»b, D. Chappardb
British Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Abstract
Microcomputed tomography is a new technique for the non-destructive study of porous biological materials. We examined 11 wisdom teeth that had been removed prophylactically by microcomputed tomography operating in the cone beam mode. The two-dimensional sections of the teeth were reconstructed with surface rendering software to provide three-dimensional models that were observed and handled in virtual reality. The tooth itself, or the pulp chamber and canals, can be reconstructed and observed separately or simultaneously. Many teeth looked dystrophic with abnormal distributions of roots and canals. Microcomputed tomography seems to be a promising way of studying dental anatomy.

Keywords: Wisdom tooth, Root canal, Microcomputed tomography, MicroCT
a CFI Ò CollÀge Fran¡ais dÌImplantologie, rue de Rome, 75008 Paris, France

b INSERM, EMI 0335 Ò LHEA, Facult» de M»decine, 49045 Angers Cedex, France

Corresponding author. Tel.: +33 2 41 73 58 65; fax: +33 2 41 35 55 12.

PII: S0266-4356(05)00148-8

doi:10.1016/j.bjoms.2005.05.009

© 2005 The British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2007 Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved

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