Evaluation of the presence of isthmuses, lateral canals and diameter in mandibular molars by CBCT: Longitudinal study in a new software

Abstract

The aim of the study is to use a new program of CBCT analysis called e-Vol DX (Software CDT, Bauru, SP, Brazil) to determine the presence of isthmus, lateral canals and diameter in lower molars permanent human teeth using CBCT. This study will use CBCT from databases of the radiology clinic of the Bauru School of Dentistry, which will be composed of a sample of 1,400 teeth. Documentaries of patients seen in radiology services will be selected in the last 5 years. The following standard scanning protocol will be used: 3D Accuitomo 170 (J. Morita, Kyoto, Japan) thickness of 0.100 mm, dimensions of 1,170 x 1,570 x 1,925 mm, field of view of 56.00 mm, voxel size of 0.100 mm and exposure time of 33.5 seconds (1024 views). The tube voltage will be 90 kVp and the tube current will be 4 mA. The images were examined using the manufacturer's own 3D Accuitomo 170 software (J. Morita, Kyoto, Japan) on a computer equipped with an Intel Core 2 Duo-6300 1.86 GHz processor (Intel Corp, Santa Clara, CA), an NVIDIA GeForce 6200 Turbo Cache (NVIDIA Corporation, Santa Clara, CA), an EIZO-Flexscan S2000 monitor with a resolution of 1600 x 1200 pixels (EIZO NANAO Corp., Hakusan, Japan) and Windows XP SP-2 professional (Microsoft Corp., Redmond, WA). The results will be submitted to D'Agostino and Pearson tests for normal distribution verification. In the absence of normality, the non-parametric Kruskal-Wallis test will be used. If normal, the parametric ANOVA test will be used. For all tests the significance level of 5% will be considered. (AU)