Accuracy of Three-dimensional Cone Beam Computed Tomography Digital Model Measurements Compared with Plaster Study Casts

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this study was to assess the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) study casts by comparing with direct measurements taken from plaster study casts. Materials and Methods The dental arches of 30 patient subjects were imaged with a Kodak 9300 3D CBCT devise; Anatomodels were created and in vivo 5 imaging software was used to measure 10 dental arch variables which were compared to measurements of plaster study casts. Results: Three of the 10 variables, i.e., overbite, maxillary intermolar width, and arch length, were found significantly smaller (P < 0.05) using the Anatomodels following nonparametric Wilcoxon signed-rank testing. None of the differences found in the study averaged <0.5 mm. Conclusions 3D CBCT imaging provided clinically acceptable accuracy for dental arch analysis. 3D CBCT imaging tended to underestimate the actual measurement compared to plaster study casts.