Analysis of Dental Tissues Density in Healthy Children Based on Radiological Data

Abstract

AbstractIntroductionThe information about the Hounsfield range values for healthy tooth tissues could become an additional tool in assessing dental health and could be used, among other data, for subsequent machine learning.AimThe aim of our study was to determine dental tissues density values in Hounsfield units.Materials and MethodsThe total selection included 36 healthy children (21 girls and 15 boys) with an age range of 6-10 to 11-15 years at the time of the study. The analysis of 320 teeth’s tissue density was carried out. The data were expressed as a mean and standard deviation. The significance was determined using the Student’s t-test. P-values less than 0.05 were considered significant.ResultsAnalysis of the data showed that the tissues of healthy teeth in children have different density ranges. Enamel: 2954.69±223.77 HU - 2071.00±222.86 HU; dentin: 1899.23±145.94 HU - 1323.10±201.67 HU; pulp: 420.29±196.47 HU -183.63±97.59 HU. No gender differences concerning the density of dental tissues were reliably identified.ConclusionThe evaluation of Hounsfield values for dental tissues can be used as an objective method for assessing their density. If the determined density values of the enamel, dentin, and pulp of the tooth do not correspond to the range of values for healthy tooth tissues, it may indicate a pathology.Key MessagesStudying the range of healthy and diseased dental tissues using Hounsfield scores, as well as standardizing studies, can help clinicians improve screening accuracy and optimize follow-up of the effectiveness of preventive and therapeutic interventions in the future.