Measuring Dental Chamber Volume with DICOM Images from Cone-Beam Computed Tomography Can Be Improved with a Simple Algorithm

Knowledge of the precise anatomy and dimensions of the pulp chambers in different teeth allows the odontologist to perform correct diagnosis, as well as treatment planning and monitoring. Clinical practice has introduced cone-beam computed tomography (CB-CT) as a method to evaluate the morphology and dimensions of the pulp chamber. Nevertheless, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) is regarded as the gold standard in approaching those topics. Here, we have designed an algorithm that takes as input DICOM images from in vivo CB-CT of permanent molars to determine the accuracy of CB-CT for evaluation of pulp chamber volume. The values were compared with those from in vivo CB-CT (rough and expert-manipulated) and ex vivo micro-CT. The relative errors obtained in the volume calculated by the algorithm vs. the volume measured by micro-CT did not exceed 5.7%; additionally, no significant differences were found between algorithm volumes and manipulated CB-CT volumes, while all volumes were different from those obtained with automatic CB-CT software. These data demonstrate that this CB-CT-based volume algorithm may be a reliable technique for evaluation of the pulp chamber volume in permanent molars and can be useful in the diagnosis of pulp diseases, as well as in the planning and monitoring of their treatments.