INTRODUCTION

Chronic inflammation of the periapical tissue usually develops without the patient reporting any symptoms, so the acquisition of images is fundamental to its detection¹. According to several studies, the probability of apical periodontitis existing and not being identified by periapical or panoramic radiography, is considerable^2-4. On the other hand, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images are high resolution^1,3,5, permitting a more precise identification of the apical periodontitis (AP), providing more effective information about the size and location, since the superimposition of the neighboring anatomical structures^1-4,6-15 is eliminated.

Studies conducted in recent years using different methodologies have reported the high sensitivity of CBCT in the diagnosis of AP^1-2,4,7-17 and in the monitoring of the healing process. However, there have been very few publications reporting on the prevalence¹⁸ and characteristics of AP identified in CBCT exams.

As far as the healing of the bone is concerned, this is deemed to be complete in 80% of treated teeth¹⁹, and it is known that the process of bone generation progresses slowly and may take four years or more to reach its conclusion. As a result, the early assessment of a periapical cure is frequently inconclusive, demanding a long period of monitoring to determine the definitive outcome of the treatment, with clinical and radiography exams being recommended^20-22. Those cases confirmed as healthy in radiographs, but which reveal apical periodontitis in the CBCT and the histological examination^4,23 could, for example, adversely affect the installation of immediate implants in locations where it is intended to replace a tooth suspected of having a possible endodontic pathology⁷.

A number of studies^24-26 have used the Periapical Index (PAI) system, the frame of reference for the various stages of apical periodontitis. Estrela et al.²⁷ developed a periapical index called the CBCT-PAI, which is based on the criterion established through measurements corresponding to the periapical radio-translucence interpreted in CBCT exams, in other words in 3D.

The aim of the present study is to describe the characteristics of instances of apical periodontitis viewed in CBCT exams using the periapical index proposed by Estrela et al.²⁷.

METHODS

Following approval by the Research Ethics Committee at the São Leopoldo Mandic Dental Research Center, under record no. 2010/0025, a total of 250 computed tomography examinations were evaluated, carried out in 2012, belonging to the archives of the Dental Radiodiagnosis Institute located in the city of Campinas, São Paulo. A total of 86 exams were selected, comprising patients of both sexes, aged between 20 and 81, with teeth in both arches and endodontically treated teeth, presenting with just one apical periodontitis. The following cases were excluded: exams conducted prior to 2012 and patients with poor facial development, edentulous and a history of tooth fractures or periradicular surgery, and other pathologies not of endodontic origin.

All the exams were acquired using the i-CAT^(r) Classic system (Imaging Sciences, Hatfield, PA, USA), with a voxel of 0.25 mm, FOV of 13 cm and acquisition time of 40 seconds. The factors applied were as follows: 120 kV fixed and a variation of 5 to 7 mA according to the resolution employed.

The images were evaluated on an LCD flat-screen 17" monitor (LG 5000:1), at a resolution of 1280 x 1024 pixels and maximum color quality (12 bits), and using the software application XoranCAT^(r), version 3.1.62 (Xoran Technologies, Ann Arbor, MI, USA), using tools to adjust brilliance and contrast and also the application of an Angio-Sharpen-Low 3 x 3 image filter in order to standardize and support AP identification.

All the analyses and measurements were carried out by a single examiner, a radiology specialist with experience in tomographic images. Based on a multiplanar reconstruction (MPR), 1 mm thick cross-sectional slices were formed perpendicular to the alveolar ridge (Figure 1).

Figure 1 Slice tracking the alveolar ridge, in axial image, in order to obtain the panoramic reconstruction and the cross-sectional slices. 

After selecting the images, two groups were formed, one for apical periodontitis in the lower teeth and one for the upper teeth. Subsequently, the cross-sectional slice was measured using a purpose-specific tool from the apex to the farthest extent of the lesion, classifying it according to the periapical index scores proposed by Estrela et al.27, as described in Table 1, however the growth and/or destruction of the bone cortex was not taken into account.

The descriptive analysis was carried out at a level of significance of 5%, using the software application Minitab Release14 (Minitab Inc. International, State College, PA, USA).

RESULTS

A descriptive statistical analysis was performed on the absolute (n) and relative (%) values of the number of teeth and the size, in millimeters, of the apical periodontitis, relating to each lower and upper tooth. The respective results are shown in Tables 2 and ³.

Afterwards, the apical periodontitis score was associated with the arch, giving the absolute (n) and relative (%) numbers of each score, as shown in Figures 2 and ³.

Figure 2.  Graphical representation of the frequency of scores in the lower teeth. Scores are identified according to the colors in the caption. 

Figure 3.  Graphical representation of the frequency of scores in the upper teeth. Scores are identified according to the colors in the caption. 

DISCUSSION

The ability to detect an apical periodontitis radiographically depends, amongst other factors, on the location of the lesion inside the bone. The lesion is more easily viewed radiographically when it is close to or in the cortical region and least likely to be seen when it is in the region of the spongy bone. The images selected in the study were reconstructed without the superimposition of the cortical block, showing what is really happening inside the spongy bone and the reconstructed slice was directed so as to result in orthogonal slices viewed parallel and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the root under investigation. These factors resulted in a greater perception of the number of roots, canals and instances of apical periodontitis present in the tooth^28-29.

From a sample consisting of 86 examinations, a total of 127 lower teeth and 180 upper teeth were observed with apical periodontitis (AP).

The lesions were measured ignoring the growth and/or destruction of the cortical bone and, in general, it was found that the lesions identified had an average size of 0.49 mm in the mandible and 0.75 mm in the maxilla. The lower premolars were the teeth most afflicted by AP, with an average size of 0.19 mm (tooth 34) and 0.43 mm (tooth 35), 0.50 mm (tooth 44) and 0.90 mm (tooth 45). As the roots of these teeth are close to anatomical structures such as the mental foramen and the mandibular canal, there is always the possibility of damage to the nerves in the presence of large lesions. When AP is associated with the upper canines, premolars or molars, it could trigger an inflammatory response within the adjacent maxillary sinus, resulting in thickening of the sinus mucosa, periostitis and sinusitis^1,8.

The AP measurements were taken using a purpose-specific tool from the apex to the farthest point of the lesion, and based on these values they were classified as shown in table 1, unlike the study by Garcia de Paula-Silva et al.⁴ where the volume was recorded in cubic millimeters. A system was used with scores identified using numbers from 0 to 5, the CBCT-PAI index, and when the tomographic images of the AP were analyzed, the predominant score was in the range 0 to 0.50 mm, in both jaws, and 55.12% of endodontically treated lower teeth and 50% upper teeth showed no recurrence of lesion nor lesions in the process of repair. Lesions identified with scores between 0 and 1 corresponded to 83.47% of lesions in the mandibular and 78.89% in the maxilla, confirming the indication of CBCT for identifying AP of small dimensions^2-3.

A single examiner analyzed all the tomographic images due to the absence of subjectivity in the CBCT-PAI periapical index and to the specific nature of cone beam CT which permits the reproduction of images identical to the object in a 1:1 spatial ratio. In a number of clinical studies^2,16-17, one to three observers analyzed the CBCT images and found that there was no significant difference between intra- and inter-observer measurements.

By grouping all the AP identified in this study, ranging from small-diameter lesions to those seen through conventional exams, scores between 1 and 4, it was possible to observe that for the mandible, CBCT accuracy reaches 44.88% and for the maxilla it is 50%, demonstrating the efficiency of this imaging method.

Early detection of AP is an important step to evaluating the efficiency of the treatment, however early detection is complicated as changes are usually subtle and not particularly significant. CBCT may be recommended for detecting AP where there is some clinical suspicion though not identified in periapical radiographs¹⁷. This study did not monitor the history, evolution and healing of the AP nor was any histological evaluation conducted, these being the limitations of the study when compared to the studies of Garcia de Paula-Silva et al.⁴, Wu et al.²³ and Jorge et al.³⁰.

CBCT is an important instrument, both for the identification of small-dimension AP and the evaluation of endodontic success, therefore further studies should be carried out with regard to their characteristics, such as radiographic density and healing time.

CONCLUSION

Considering the results obtained in the present study, it may be concluded that there was a predominance of small apical periodontitis, the premolars being the most affected.