Detection of vertical root fractures by cone-beam computerized tomography in endodontically treated teeth with fiber-resin and titanium posts: an in vitro study

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the performance of 2 cone-beam computerized tomography (CBCT) systems for detecting vertical fractures in root-filled teeth with fiber-resin or titanium posts.

Study design: CBCT images acquired with the use of Scanora 3D and i-CAT of roots with fiber-resin (n = 30) or titanium (n = 29) posts, before and after the induction of fractures, were assessed by 6 radiologists using Ondemand 3D software. Interobserver agreement was analyzed using kappa statistics. Sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and positive and negative predictive values were compared with analysis of variance/Student-Newman-Keuls test.

Results: Interobserver agreement for fiber-resin posts ranged from 0.5 to 0.7 (Scanora 3D) and 0.35-0.76 (i-CAT). For titanium posts, ranged from 0.42 to 0.80 (Scanora 3D) and 0.31-0.73 (i-CAT). Higher sensitivity (0.85; P < .05) and negative predictive values (0.88; P < .001) were observed for i-CAT in roots with fiber-resin posts than with other combinations.

Conclusions: The diagnostic performance for detecting vertical fractures was higher for roots with fiber-resin than with titanium posts.