Evaluation of Correspondence of Dental Computed Tomography Imaging to Anatomic Observation of External Root Resorption

Radiography using a compact dental CT, the 3D Accuitomo XYZ Slice View Tomograph (3D Accuitomo), was performed for examining the root resorption of a mandibular premolar in a patient who needed endodontic therapy. The images obtained by the 3D Accuitomo clearly showed the apparent presence of external root resorption of the tooth. As the root resorption had progressed seriously, the diagnosis was that it was impossible to save the tooth. After having obtained informed consent from the patient, the tooth was extracted. The surface of the root of the extracted tooth was examined visually without magnification, and the observations were compared with the findings made by 3D Accuitomo imaging for evaluating the reliability of the dental CT for diagnostic imaging of root resorption. The radiographic and visual examination results corresponded completely. Thus the 3D Accuitomo depicted the aspects of root resorption accurately; and its application for clinical use should be very effective for examining and diagnosing root resorption.