Difference in implant measurements made on cone beam computed tomography scans taken with and without radiographic stent

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is the most efficient imaging modality for assessment of implant site. The efficacy of preoperative CBCT scans can be enhanced by the use of radiographic stent. This study sought to assess the differences in implant measurements made on CBCT scans taken with and without radiographic stent.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on 118 CBCT sections available in the electronic files of five patients who had undergone CBCT with radiographic stent. Four oral and maxillofacial radiologists and three maxillofacial surgeons were requested to locate the site of teeth on original radiographs taken with stent and cropped images without the stent and record them in a form. A gold standard form was also filled out by an oral and maxillofacial radiologist.

Errors in selection of correct cut (>2 cuts from the gold standard cut) had a frequency of 6.1% and 41.1% in scans taken with and without radiographic stent, respectively. Selection of correct cut had a significant correlation with the use of radiographic stent and the observer's specialty (both Ps<0.001) but had no correlation with the type of tooth or left/right quadrant of the jaw (P>0.05).

Radiologists had higher odds than surgeons for selection of correct cut in presence and absence of stent. Also, the odds of selection of correct cut by both radiologists and surgeons were higher in presence of stent.