Background: Protrusion of the infraorbital canal is an anatomical variation in which the canal extends into the maxillary sinus. Awareness of this variation is important to avoid surgical complications. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of infraorbital canal protrusion using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT).Methods and Materials: In this descriptive-analytical study, 200 CBCT images of patients referred to a private maxillofacial radiology center in Babol were examined. The prevalence of infraorbital canal protrusion was evaluated based on gender, age, side, unilateral or bilateral involvement, septal length, and its attachment to the sinus wall. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 22 software, with the significance level set at 0.05.Results: Of the 200 maxillary sinus CBCT scans assessed, infraorbital canal protrusion was observed in 10.5% of cases. Among the 21 identified cases, 17 (80.9%) were unilateral and 4 (19.1%) were bilateral. The most common septal length category was Class I (1–3 mm), accounting for 46.7% of cases. No statistically significant association was found between protrusion and either gender or age group.Conclusion: Although the prevalence of infraorbital canal protrusion in the studied population was not high, careful preoperative assessment of the infraorbital canal using CBCT is recommended to help prevent potential complications in maxillary sinus surgeries.

Background: Aplasia and hypoplasia of the maxillary sinus are rare conditions that can cause symptoms such as headache and voice change. Most patients are asymptomatic, the purpose of this study is to evaluate quantitatively and the quality of the maxillary sinus in CBCT images was in a population from the north of the country.Materials and Methods: The current descriptive study was an analysis that included 997 CBCT samples of the maxillary sinus. When the maximum horizontal or vertical diameter of the maxillary sinus is less than half the maximum diameter of the orbit on the same side, mild MSH. And when the maximum vertical or horizontal diameter of the maxillary sinus was less than half of the maximum diameter of the orbit on the same side and with the enlargement of the orbit on the same side, moderate MSH and the maximum vertical and horizontal diameter of the maxillary sinus was less than half of the maximum diameter of the orbit on the same side, severe MSH were defined Finally, the data was statistically analyzed using SPSS version 26 software.Results: Out of 997 samples examined in the study, 42 samples were qualitatively and quantitatively found to have sinus hypoplasia (4.2%). Conclusion: Out of 997 samples examined in the study, 42 samples were qualitatively and quantitatively found to have sinus hypoplasia. Of the 42 hypoplasia cases, 25 were unilateral and 17 were bilateral. There was no statistically significant relationship between gender and age group with maxillary sinus hypoplasia.

As the use of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is increasing and the quality of images is enhanced, the likelihood of incidental findings detection in CBCT radiographs is raised. Variable frequency of incidental findings on oral and maxillofacial CBCT scans has been reported.

Background: Antral exostosis in the maxillary sinus generally causes changes in the sinus, and its expansion may complicate planned sinus lift procedures before implant placement in the edentulous posterior maxilla. Therefore, before planning implant surgery, it is necessary to evaluate the presence of antral exostoses and other abnormalities, especially in the maxillary sinuses. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of exostoses in the maxillary sinus through cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images in a population of northern Iran.Materials and Methods: In this descriptive analytical study, 1068 scans were examined. Several parameters such as the presence of exostosis, location, bilateral or unilateral, type of exostosis and type of bone were investigated. In the coronal, sagittal, and axial images, the presence of exostosis and its location in the maxillary sinus, and its appearance and symmetry were recorded. Then, the collected data were analyzed by SPSS version 20 software and the significance level was considered P<0.05.Results: In the present study, 1068 samples were evaluated, and exostoses were observed in 15 cases. Out of the 15 cases of exostosis observed, there were 4 cases of bilateral (26.7%) and 11 cases of unilateral (73.3%) exostoses. 9 cases were on the right, 2 cases on the left side and 4 cases were both on right and left sides. 9 cases were observed in the lower wall, 3 cases in the medial wall and 7 cases in the lateral wall. There was no significant relationship between gender and the presence of exostoses (P=0.427).Conclusion: The most frequently encountered exostoses were of broad-base type. Therefore, dentists are suggested to evaluate the position and condition of the maxillary sinus before performing implant surgery.

Background: The oral health of children is adversely affected by mouth breathing. One of the main reasons for mouth breathing in children is adenoid hypertrophy. Consequently, this study aimed to assess the relationship between oral health and adenoid hypertrophy among children aged 8-15 years in the city of Babol. Methods: This case -control study was conducted on 100 children. The case group included 50 children with adenoid hypertrophy. An Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) specialist examined the children clinically and referred them to the oral and maxillofacial radiology clinic. The study control group included 50 healthy children. To assess the size of the adenoidal tissues and the dimensions of the upper airways, we assessed the linear cephalometric measurement Ptm-ad 2 . The evaluations consisted of the decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT and dmft for permanent and primary teeth, respectively) index, mean periodontal pocket depth, plaque index (PI), and papillary marginal attached (PMA) index. Results: Fifty samples had adenoid hypertrophy. The prevalence of dental caries was significantly higher in children with adenoid hypertrophy compared to healthy children (DMFT was 4.10 +/- 2.09 and 2.06 +/- 0.97, and dmft was 3.52 +/- 3.34 and 1.48 +/- 1.24, in the case and control groups, respectively). Furthermore, the periodontal indices of the case group were significantly greater than those of the control group (periodontal pocket depth was 2.93 +/- 0.35 and 1.98 +/- 0.23, PI was 2.73 +/- 0.26 and 1.13 +/- 0.29, and the PMA index was 5.71 +/- 0.82 and 2.55 +/- 0.48, in the case and control groups, respectively). Conclusion: In the case group, there was a statistically higher prevalence of dental caries and gingival inflammation than in the control group. Therefore, periodical dental visits and preventive dental procedures are recommended for children with adenoid hypertrophy.

Purpose:We aimed to compare the diagnostic performance of different cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan modes with and without the application of a metal artifact reduction (MAR) option under 5 different restorative materials. Material and methods:Our research was an in vitro study with 150 caries-free premolars and molars. The teeth were randomly divided into experimental (with artificially induced caries, n = 75) and control (without caries, n = 75) groups and were prepared based on 5 types of restorative materials, including conventional composites (Filtek Z250, Gradia), flow composite, glass ionomer, and amalgam. The teeth were examined under 2 CBCT scan modes (high-resolution [HIRes] and standard) with and without MAR application. Finally, the diagnostic accuracy index values (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve [AUC], sensitivity, and specificity) were calculated. Results:The AUC of standard scan mode with the MAR option was significantly lower than that of HIRes with MAR (p = 0.018) and without MAR option (p = 0.011) in detecting recurrent caries. Also, without MAR option, the diagnostic accuracy (AUC) of the standard mode was significantly lower than that of the HIRes (p = 0.020). Similar findings were observed for sensitivity and specificity. Moreover, diagnostic performance of standard and HIRes scan modes with and without MAR in the amalgam group was lower than that in other restorative material groups. Conclusions:Diagnostic performance of HIRes CBCT mode was higher than that of standard mode for recurrent caries and remained unaffected by MAR application. However, the accuracy in detecting recurrent caries was lower in the amalgam group compared with other restorative material groups.

Background and purpose: The anatomy of the great palatine canal is important for dentists and maxillofacial surgeons in terms of performing various surgical procedures such as local anesthesia, dental implant placement, and paranasal sinus surgery. In the axial view, the great palatal foramen (GPF) is usually seen in the alignment of the second molar and is hidden by the thick mucosa, which is important to determine its clinical position according to the anatomical signs. The present study aimed to investigate and evaluate the anatomical variations of the large palatine foramen and canal, the large and small palatine foramen, and the location of the large palatine foramen by CBCT technique. Materials and methods: In this retrospective cross-sectional study, 316 CBCT images related to the maxilla were analyzed to identify the large and small palatal foramen and the palatal canal and their positions. In this cross-sectional study, CBCT images obtained from patients were evaluated in terms of morphology and diameter of the large palatal foramen and large palatal canal. The anatomical shape of the large palatal canal in the sagittal plane and the position of the large palatal foramen in the axial plane relative to the second molar tooth in the upper jaw were investigated. The required information was collected in the checklist prepared for this purpose. With the help of two observers specializing in maxillofacial radiology, the CBCT images were examined and gave their opinion, and 20% of the data were repeated for the observer's error. In this study, the samples were divided into three age groups for statistical analysis. The relationship between age groups, GPF, and large palatal canal was investigated. After collecting the data and information, it was analyzed by SPSS V.23 software, and the data was described using number and percentage indicators and central and dispersion indicators. The significance level was considered to be P<0.05. Results: Results showed that large palatal holes are seen in 63.9% of the distal second molar and 36.1% flush with the second molar in CBCT images. In terms of foramen morphology, the most common shape was oval in 107 patients (33.9%). Also, according to the surveys, the most common morphology of the large palatal canal was cascade in 120 people (38%). Additionally, the results showed that there is a significant relationship between the morphology of the large palatal foramen and gender, so that the round and oval shapes are more common in men, and the round, split, and teardrop shapes are more common in women. The number of small palatal foramen was less than 3 in 88.8% of cases. According to statistical tests, there is a significant relationship between the diameter of the small palatal foramen with sex, age, and jaw direction (P=0.046). Conclusion: Considering that the large palatal foramen is located in the distal second molar in most cases a significant relationship was found between the shape of the GPF and its position. Therefore, to avoid surgical problems, it is necessary to evaluate the anatomical variations of the hole and the large palatal canal, especially before the maxillary wisdom tooth surgery.

This research aimed to introduce an auto-adaptive metal artifact reduction (aMAR) algorithm in cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) to assess the levels of the pre-implant alveolar crest. Dental implants as a treatment modality for edentulous patients consist of a titanium alloy, which creates a metal artifact, resulting in a dark dental structure in the CBCT scans. Metallic artifacts are limiting factors for the precise detection in CBCT images. These are related to the dark areas around materials and metallic structures (e.g., restorations, implants, and endodontic instruments). To overcome this problem, the metal artifact reduction (MAR) program has been recommended as a post-procedure stage for CBCT image reconstruction. Recent developments offer CBCT scanners with an aMAR option with a greater dynamic range to help overcome the challenges of peri-implant bone evaluation to reach accurate dental diagnoses.

Background:There have been few studies that have evaluated the imaging characteristics of the gubernacular canal. Additionally, it is important to understand the role of this structure and its relationship with tooth erupt. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the association between gubernacular canal features and teeth eruption status on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.Material and Methods:In this cross-sectional study, 150 CBCT images were obtained from patients referred to a maxillofacial radiology clinic in Babol, northern Iran, in 2021. Eruption status (normal, delayed, and impacted) and the presence of the gubernacular canal were recorded. If the gubernacular canal was detected, its opening site in the alveolar crest (buccal, lingual, and central) and its attachment site to the dental follicle (usual, unusual) were further assessed.Results:Gubernacular canal was observed in 133 (88.7%) of the total 150 CBCT images. Also, 41 cases (27.3%) had impacted teeth. The detection rate of the gubernacular canal in the normal, delayed, and impacted eruption of teeth was 92.1% (n=93), 75.0% (n=6), and 82.9% (n=34), respectively (p=0.135). Opening the gubernacular canal in the alveolar crest was not associated with teeth eruption status. Also, unusual attachment sites of the gubernacular canal to dental follicles were mostly seen in abnormal eruptions.Conclusions:According to the findings, observing the presence of the gubernacular canal on CBCT may not help anticipate teeth eruption problems. Key words:Gubernacular canal, Cone-beam computed tomography, Tooth eruption.

Background:So far, different studies have endeavored to evaluate the position and dimensions of mental foramen and canal using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images with various results. This study aimed to assess the anatomical variations of the mental foramen and canal utilizing CBCT images. Material and Methods:In this retrospective observational study, we investigated CBCT scans of 355 patients (710 terminal branches of mental canal and foramen) who were referred to a private dental and maxillofacial radiology center in Babol, during 2020-2022. We recorded different anatomical variations of mental foramina and canals on left (n=355) and right (n=355) mandibles. Results:Most of the mental canals had a distal opening (n=334, 47.0%). The distance between the mental foramen and the lower mandibular border was greater on left mandible (13.92±3.73 mm) than on the right mandible (12.25±3.94 mm) (p<0.001). On left mandible, the vertical diameter of the mental foramen, as well as the distance between the mental foramen and the lower mandibular border, were significantly greater in men than in women. On right mandible, the distance between the mental foramen and the upper alveolar crest edge, as well as the distance between the mental foramen and the lower mandibular border, were significantly greater in men versus women. Finally, on right mandible, the vertical diameter of the mental foramen was significantly greater in subjects aged >45 years compared with those aged ≤45 (p=0.024). Conclusions:There were notable variations in the morphological characteristics of the mental foramen and canal, which should be considered by clinicians. Key words:Mental foramen, mental canal, cone-beam computed tomography.

Background and Objective: The infraorbital canal (IOC) is located in the floor of the orbit and terminates at the infraorbital foramen below the orbital rim. The IOC is a crucial anatomical landmark for successful anesthesia in dentistry and oral and maxillofacial surgery. This study aimed to evaluate the position and dimensions of the IOC based on cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on CBCT images of 250 individuals (105 males and 145 females) (mean age = 36.14±17.7 years) referring to a specialized oral and maxillofacial radiology clinic in Babol, Iran, during 2021-22. Three different types of IOC pathways from the sinus roof were measured: Completely located within the maxillary sinus roof (Type 1), located below the maxillary sinus roof (Type 2), and suspended from the maxillary sinus roof within the septum or lamella of the infraorbital ethmoid cell (Type 3). Additionally, the angles between the IOC and the infraorbital groove with the maxillary sinus roof, the angles between the IOC and the infraorbital groove, the lengths of the IOC and the infraorbital groove, and the distances of the IOC from various anatomical landmarks were measured. Distances of the IOC (mm) were evaluated from other anatomical landmarks according to gender and age groups. Results: Overall, various pathways of the IOC from the sinus roof were 39.4% in Type 1, 53% in Type 2, and 7.6% in Type 3; the mean distance of the IOC to the infraorbital rim was 8.58±1.30 mm, and to the midpoint of the canine root was 10.16±0.81 mm. The mean length of the canal was 25.89±2.47 mm, and the infraorbital groove was 5.06±0.58 mm; and the mean angle between the IOC and the infraorbital groove was 153.20±3.28 degrees. In general, the distance of the IOC to the midpoint of the canine root on both the left and right sides was greater in males than in females, which was statistically significant on the left side (P<0.05). It was found that the length of the IOC and the angle between the IOC and the infraorbital groove on the left side had statistically significant correlations with age groups (P<0.05). The mean distance from the foramen to the infraorbital rim and the length of the IOC were proportional to the degree of nerve protrusion into the maxillary sinus; however, no significant correlation was found between the types of canals (degree of nerve protrusion) and gender. Conclusion: Type 2 was the most common pathway of the IOC from the sinus roof. Although Type 3 was less common, due to the high risk associated with this type of canal, surgeons should be fully aware of the morphology and anatomical position of the IOC during sinus and orbital surgeries to reduce probable injuries.

Background and aims: The current investigation aimed to evaluate jaw bone changes, and compare the presence of gonial cortex bone thickness, mental index (MI), lamina dura (LD), lower dental canal, and bone density in panoramic radiography, in patients with hyperparathyroidism. Methods: The present cross-sectional descriptive-analytical study was performed on 17 healthy individuals and 17 patients who suffered from resorptive hypercalciuria in the dialysis center of Shahid Beheshti hospital in Babol in 2018. If patients had two or more decayed teeth, they were referred to a specialized maxillofacial clinic by the dentist for free panoramic imaging. Mandibular cortical index, LD, bone change, mandibular resorption (MR), and general cortical indices underwent examination. Results: The mean age of the control and case groups was 36.58±11.81 years and 40.23±14.32 years, respectively (P=0.424). In addition, the mean MI was 4.27±0.87 and 2.98±0.75 in the control and case groups, respectively (P<0.001). Based on the results, the mean gonion region’s cortical bone thickness was 0.93±0.23 and 1.09±0.24 in the case and control groups, respectively (P<0.001). Further, bone changes (P=0.036) and MR (P=0.017) were significantly different in the case and control groups. However, LD vision showed no significant difference in the hyperparathyroidism and the control groups (P=0.141). Conclusion: The results demonstrated a decrease in the thickness of the cortical bone in the guinea pig, mental region, and lack of dental canal in resorptive hypercalciuria compared to healthy individuals.

Introduction: Complete healing of a gingivectomy wound usually takes between one and two months. To speed up this process, different topical medications have been reported. In addition, there are different studies assessing the efficacy of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) in terms of wound healing and pain relief subsequent to gingivectomy, yielding inconsistent outcomes. In the present study, we systematically reviewed the existing evidence in the literature to resolve the given conflicts. Methods: We searched for the studies published from inception to 1 April 2023 in Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases without language limitation by the use of appropriate keywords. We included randomized or non-randomized clinical trial studies that appraised the efficacy of LLLT in pain reduction and wound healing in adult patients who underwent gingivectomy. We pooled the continuous data concerning the pain visual analogue scale and the healing index extracted from the individual studies to provide a standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% confidence interval (CI), using a random-effects model. Results: Out of 188 sources initially captured from the database search, six studies were ultimately included. Regarding wound healing, the LLLT group exhibited a significantly higher mean value of the healing index compared to the control group on days 3 (SMD, 0.93; 95% CI, 0.39 to 1.47) and 7 (SMD, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.49 to 1.57) post-surgery. Also, significant differences were noted in the postoperative pain reduction between the two groups on days 3 (SMD, -2.00; 95% CI, -2.48 to -1.51) and 7 (SMD, -2.44; 95% CI, -4.66 to -0.22) post-surgery. Conclusion: According to the present systematic review, LLLT could potentially be an efficient adjunctive treatment after gingivectomy for wound healing acceleration and patient pain alleviation.

Objective The aim of this study was to compare and evaluate diagnostic accuracy of two different CBCT scan modes and digital bitewing radiography for detection of recurrent caries under five different restorative materials, and determine the relationship between the types of restorative materials. Materials and methods In this in vitro study, 200 caries-free upper and lower premolars and molars were selected. A standard deep Class II cavities was created in the middle of the mesial surface of all teeth. In 100 teeth of the experimental and control groups, secondary caries was artificially demineralized. All teeth were filled with five types of restorative material including two types of conventional composite resins, flow composite resin, glass ionomer and amalgam. The teeth were imaged with high resolution (HIRes) and standard CBCT scan modes and digital bitewing. The AUC, sensitivity, specificity and areas under the ROC curve were calculated and verified through SPSS. Results CBCT technique was the best option in diagnosing recurrent caries. The diagnostic accuracy and specificity of HIRes CBCT scan mode was significantly higher than standard mode ( P = 0.031) and bitewing ( P = 0.029) for detection of recurrent caries, especially under composite group. There were no significant differences in accuracy value of bitewing and standard CBCT scan mode. Conclusion CBCT showed higher accuracy and specificity on the detection of recurrent caries which was more accurate than bitewing radiography. The HIRes CBCT scan mode achieved the highest accuracy and performed the best in recurrent caries detection.

Objective: We aimed to perform a contemporaneous systematic review and meta-analysis of the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) studies to resolve conflicting results in the literature about the prevalence and anatomical variations of maxillary sinus septa. Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Scopus, and Cochrane library databases were searched (from inception to 31 October 2022) to identify studies that assessed prevalence and anatomical characteristics (location, orientation, and/or morphology) of maxillary sinus septa in the subjects undergoing CBCT imaging. The necessary data were extracted and pooled prevalence and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated.Results: A total of 19 studies were eligible, compromising 6507 subjects and 12,536 maxillary sinuses. According to analysis, septa were observed in 34.7% (95% CI: 30.0-39.4) of the maxillary sinuses. Also, 22.9% (95% CI: 17.2-28.7) of patients showed septa in one maxillary sinus, while 17.7% (95% CI: 12.6-22.9) featured them bilaterally. Prevalence of maxillary sinus septa in men was 51.9% (95% CI: 42.0-61.8), which was higher than in women (47.0% [95% CI: 37.6-56.4). Septa were present in 34.8% (95% CI: 23.1-46.5) and 34.3% (95% CI: 26.7-41.9) of the left and right maxillary sinuses, respectively. Regarding location, most of the septa (54.0% [95% CI: 19.7-22.4]) were identified in the middle maxillary sinus region. The most frequent orientation of maxillary sinus septa was coronal (56.9% [95% CI: 54.2-59.5]). Finally, majority of the maxillary sinus septa were incomplete (68.8% [95% CI: 65.9-71.6]).Conclusions: Septa had a considerable prevalence in the maxillary sinuses. Also, significant variations were observed in the anatomical characteristics of the maxillary sinus septa.

Purpose:We aimed to conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies examining the performance of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in apical periodontitis (AP) prediction. This was done to address the contradictory results reported in the existing literature on this topic.Material and methods:We searched the Embase, PubMed, Cochrane library, and Scopus databases for literature published from inception to 30 June 2023 without language restriction using appropriate keywords. We included studies that reported the diagnostic accuracy values of CBCT in AP detection among humans by comparing AP diagnosis with a control group without lesions. We pooled the diagnostic accuracy values using a random effects model and presented the estimates as percentage and 95% confidence interval (CI). The heterogeneity between the surveys was explored by I2 statistic.Results:Out of 301 citations initially identified, a total of 8 eligible studies were finally included. According to the analyses, the overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) estimated for CBCT were 94.6% (95% CI: 90.2-97.1; I2 = 55.9%, p = 0.026), 91.2% (95% CI: 81.7-96.0; I2 = 81.6%, p < 0.001), 93.0% (95% CI: 87.4-96.2; I2 = 56.5%, p = 0.024), and 92.3% (95% CI: 82.3-96.8; I2 = 86.4%, p < 0.001), respectively. The overall pooled sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of digital radiography were 61.0% (95% CI: 38.3-79.8; I2 = 94.4%, p < 0.001), 97.3% (95% CI: 85.6-99.5; I2 = 86.7%, p < 0.001), 98.3% (95% CI: 92.0-99.6; I2 = 74.4%, p = 0.002), and 41.6% (95% CI: 28.0-56.6; I2 = 89.5%, p < 0.001), respectively.Conclusions:CBCT imaging has excellent diagnostic accuracy in AP prediction. Also, CBCT has better discriminant test performance for AP than digital radiography.

Purpose:The aim of this study was to conduct a scoping review and meta-analysis to provide overall estimates of the recall and precision of artificial intelligence for detection and segmentation using oral and maxillofacial cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. Materials and Methods:A literature search was done in Embase, PubMed, and Scopus through October 31, 2022 to identify studies that reported the recall and precision values of artificial intelligence systems using oral and maxillofacial CBCT images for the automatic detection or segmentation of anatomical landmarks or pathological lesions. Recall (sensitivity) indicates the percentage of certain structures that are correctly detected. Precision (positive predictive value) indicates the percentage of accurately identified structures out of all detected structures. The performance values were extracted and pooled, and the estimates were presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results:In total, 12 eligible studies were finally included. The overall pooled recall for artificial intelligence was 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87-0.94). In a subgroup analysis, the pooled recall was 0.88 (95% CI: 0.77-0.94) for detection and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.87-0.96) for segmentation. The overall pooled precision for artificial intelligence was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.88-0.95). A subgroup analysis showed that the pooled precision value was 0.90 (95% CI: 0.77-0.96) for detection and 0.94 (95% CI: 0.89-0.97) for segmentation. Conclusion:Excellent performance was found for artificial intelligence using oral and maxillofacial CBCT images.

Background and Objective: Sinus extension is a physiological process that occurs in the growth cells of the paranasal sinuses and leads to increasing their volume over time, causing challenges in the dental implant process. This study was conducted to evaluate maxillary sinus morphometrics by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: This descriptive-analytical study was conducted on the CBCT images of 100 people (52 male and 48 female) with a mean age of 45.32 ± 17.41 and the age range of 27 to 63 years referring to an oral and maxillofacial specialized radiology clinic in Babol, Iran during 2019. The amount of maxillary sinus extension in the panoramic-like view was recorded based on the amount of its extension in terms of the first anterior tooth and the last posterior tooth. In the new net technologies (NNT) software, in the section related to creating panoramic-like views, first, in the axial sections, the starting point of the maxillary sinus was specified from the occlusal side, and the mediolateral dimensions were measured at distances of 3 mm above and 3 mm below. Results: The highest amount of maxillary sinus progress in the right anterior side was related to the mesial of tooth 5 (15%), and the highest amount of sinus progress in the left anterior side was related to the distal of tooth 3 (15%) and the mesial of tooth 4 (15%), which had no statistically significant differences. The most progress in the anterior area was related to the distal of the canine tooth and the mesial of the first premolar. The mean mediolateral sinus progress at 3 mm above the right nasal floor was higher in females than in males (P<0.05). Gender and age had no statistically significant relationship with maxillary sinus progress. Conclusion: The maxillary sinus progress was almost equal in the left and right sides and also in males and females.

PurposeThe aim of the present systematic review and meta-analysis was to resolve the conflicts on the diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence systems in detecting and segmenting oral and maxillofacial structures using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images.Material and methodsWe performed a literature search of the Embase, PubMed, and Scopus databases for reports published from their inception to 31 October 2022. We included studies that explored the accuracy of artificial intelligence in the automatic detection or segmentation of oral and maxillofacial anatomical landmarks or lesions using CBCT images. The extracted data were pooled, and the estimates were presented with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsIn total, 19 eligible studies were identified. As per the analysis, the overall pooled diagnostic accuracy of artificial intelligence was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91-0.94). This rate was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.89-0.96) for anatomical landmarks based on 7 studies and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.90-0.94) for lesions according to 12 reports. Moreover, the pooled accuracy of detection and segmentation tasks for artificial intelligence was 0.93 (95% CI: 0.91-0.94) and 0.92 (95% CI: 0.85-0.95) based on 14 and 5 surveys, respectively.ConclusionsExcellent accuracy was observed for the detection and segmentation objectives of artificial intelligence using oral and maxillofacial CBCT images. These systems have the potential to streamline oral and dental healthcare services.

Background There are different values reported about the performance of artificial intelligence using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for segmentation of oral and maxillofacial structures. We aimed to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis to provide an overall estimate to resolve the given conflicts. Material and Methods A literature search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, and Scopus through 31 October 2022, to identify studies evaluating artificial intelligence systems using oral and maxillofacial CBCT images for automatic segmentation of anatomical landmarks. The surveys had to report the outcome according to dice coefficient (DICE) or dice similarity coefficient (DSC) index. The estimates were presented as percent and 95% confidence interval (CI). I-squared index was used to assess the heterogeneity between the surveys. Results A total of 24 eligible studies were finally enrolled. The overall pooled DICE/DSC value for artificial intelligence was 0.92 (95% CI: 0.88-0.95; I-squared=93.6%, p<0.001). Tooth and mandible were evaluated more than other anatomical regions (five studies for each one). The lowest and highest DICE/DSC scores for the artificial intelligence related to inferior alveolar nerve (0.55 [95% CI: 0.47-0.63]) and pharyngeal airway and sinonasal cavity (0.98 [95% CI: 0.98-1.00]). Conclusions The findings revealed excellent performance for the artificial intelligence regarding the segmentation task of oral and maxillofacial CBCT images. Key words:Artificial intelligence, cone-beam computed tomography, segmentation performance, dentistry.