Evaluation of tooth root surface area using a three-dimensional scanning technique and cone beam computed tomographic reconstruction in vitro.

OBJECTIVE:To study the feasibility of measuring root surface area (RSA) by 3D scanning technique and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) reconstruction in vitro. DESIGN:Twenty extracted teeth (10 single-rooted teeth and 10 multi-rooted teeth) were collected in this study. The RSA of the extracted teeth was measured by the membrane technique, 3D scanning technique, and CBCT reconstruction. A standard part was also designed to check the accuracy of each method. All statistical analyses were performed using the SPSS software. RESULTS:According to the results of one-way ANOVA, there was no significant difference among the values of RSA measured by the three techniques (p>0.05). The results of Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test further demonstrated that there was no significant difference among the values of RSA in both single- and multi-rooted teeth measured by the three techniques (p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS:The membrane technique, the 3D scanning technique, and CBCT reconstruction are novel reliable techniques for measuring the RSA in both single- and multi-rooted teeth, which will provide wide clinical applications in the future.