Comparison of mesiodistal root angulation using post-treatment panoramic radiographs and cone beam computed tomography

The purpose of this project is to compare mesiodistal root angulations using post-treatment panoramic radiographic images and CBCT scans. Mesiodistal root angulations using panoramic images and cone beam computed tomography scans obtained on 35 orthognathic surgery patients at the completion of orthodontic treatment were compared. Panoramic images were measured using VixWin and NewTom CBCT scans using InvivoDental 3D. The mesiodistal root angulations of each upper and lower tooth were measured using the occlusal plane as the reference line. Using an intercept-only linear regression for correlated data (with an unstructured covariance structure), the global test of whether the mean vector of all the differences for the teeth is zero was performed separately for the maxillary and mandibular arch. The global test for both the maxillary and mandibular arch was statistically significant (P<0.001) indicating an overall difference in root angulation between measures from panoramic and CBCT images.