Effect of voxel size of Micro-CT on the assessment of root canal preparation

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) voxel size on evaluation of root canal preparation using rotary heat-treated nickel-titanium files. Curved mesial root canals of mandibular molars were prepared using ProDesign Logic 30/.05 (PDL) or HyFlex EDM 25/.08 (HEDM) (n=12). The specimens were scanned using micro-CT with 5μm of voxel size before and after root canal preparation. Images with sub-resolution of 10 and 20μm voxel sizes were obtained. The percentage of volume increase, debris and uninstrumented root canal surface were analyzed in the different voxel sizes. Data were compared using unpaired Student's t-test and ANOVA statistical tests (α=0.05). No differences were observed for percentage of volume increase, debris and instrumented surface between the root canals prepared by PDL and HEDM (p>0.05). Both systems promoted higher percentage of debris in the apical third compared to the middle third (p0.05). PDL and HEDM had similar root canal preparation capacity. Micro-CT images using different voxel sizes did not influence the results of volume increase and debris evaluation. However, images at 5µm showed greater accuracy to evaluate the percentage of uninstrumented surfaces.

El objetivo de este estudio fue evaluar la influencia del tamaño de vóxel de la microtomografía computarizada (micro-CT) en la evaluación de la preparación del conducto radicular utilizando limas rotatorias de níquel-titanio tratadas térmicamente. Se prepararon conductos radiculares mesiales curvos de molares mandibulares usando ProDesign Logic 30/.05 (PDL) o HyFlex EDM 25/.08 (HEDM) (n=12). Las muestras se escanearon usando micro-CT con un tamaño de vóxel de 5μm antes y después de la preparación del conducto radicular. Se obtuvieron imágenes con subresolución de vóxeles de 10 y 20μm. Se analizó el porcentaje de aumento de volumen, residuos y superficie del conducto radicular no instrumentado en diferentes tamaños de vóxel. Los datos se compararon usando la prueba t de Student no pareada y las pruebas estadísticas ANOVA (α=0,05). No se observaron diferencias en el porcentaje de aumento de volumen, detritus y superficie instrumentada entre los conductos radiculares preparados por PDL y HEDM (p>0,05). Ambos sistemas promovieron un mayor porcentaje de detritos en el tercio apical en comparación con el tercio medio (p0,05). PDL y HEDM tenían una capacidad de preparación del conducto radicular similar. Las imágenes de micro-CT que utilizan diferentes tamaños de vóxel no influyeron en los resultados de la evaluación del volumen y los desechos. Sin embargo, las imágenes de 5µm mostraron una mayor precisión al evaluar el porcentaje de superficies no instrumentadas.

Influence of voxel size on dentinal microcrack detection by micro-CT after root canal preparation

Abstract The aim of this study was to assess the influence of micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) voxel size on dentinal microcrack detection after root canal preparation using rotary heat-treated nickel-titanium files. Curved mesial root canals (n = 24) of mandibular molars were prepared using ProDesign Logic 30/.05 (PDL) or HyFlex EDM 25/.08 (HEDM). The specimens were scanned by micro-CT at 5 μm voxel size before and after root canal preparation. The percentage of microcracks was evaluated in images at 5, 10 and 20 μm voxel size, by two examiners at two moments. The Kappa and McNemar tests (α = 0.05) were used. The percentage of dentinal microcracks was similar before and after PDL and HEDM preparations, at 10 and 20 μm (p > 0.05). HEDM showed a higher percentage of dentinal microcracks in the middle third at 5 μm after preparation (p < 0.05). The detection of dentinal microcracks before and after instrumentation using PDL was more accurate at 5 μm than at 20 μm, in all thirds (p < 0.05). Within the limitations of this ex vivo study, as expected, the results showed that different resolutions influence the micro-CT analysis of microcracks. The highest accuracy in detecting microcracks was observed for analyses performed at 5 μm voxel size. HyFlex EDM caused even more microcracks to develop in the middle third, detectable only by visualization of images made at 5 μm voxel size.