Photon-counting CT outperforms dental CBCT in detecting small accessory canals in root-filled teeth in a phantom study.

ABSTRACT: Accurate visualization of dental structures in root-filled teeth is critical for endodontic assessment but challenging due to artifacts from root canal (RC) fillings. This study compares photon-counting-detector CT (PCD-CT) and cone-beam CT (CBCT) for detecting small accessory canals in the presence of RC fillings. A phantom model with four bovine teeth containing RC fillings and five artificial accessory canals (1000-200 μm) per tooth was embedded in a bovine rib. The phantom was scanned with clinical PCD-CT (ultra-high-resolution protocol) and dental CBCT (endodontic protocol). Canal visibility was evaluated using signal-to-noise criteria, and canal diameters were compared with micro-CT measurements, serving as the reference. Blooming artifacts from RC fillings were quantified using the

SUBMITTER: Rau S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12559294 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature