Cone Beam Computed Tomography versus Digital Panoramic Radiography for Alveolar Bone Height Assessment: A Prospective Comparative Study

Abstract

Objective: The main objective of the study is to find the comparison of cone beam computed tomography versus 
digital panoramic radiography for alveolar bone height assessment.
Study Design: A prospective comparative study
Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted at the Farid Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, from June 2022 
to December 2022.
Materials and Methods: A total of 60 patients were included in the study, divided into two groups of 30 patients 
each. Patients was selected based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients in Group A were undergone 
digital panoramic radiography using a standard panoramic X-ray machine. Group B patients were received CBCT 
scans using a state-of-the-art cone beam computed tomography machine.
Results: Data were collected from 60 patients. Group A (digital panoramic radiography) and Group B (cone beam 
computed tomography - CBCT). The demographic characteristics of the patients, including age and gender 
distribution, were similar between the two groups, ensuring comparable baseline characteristics. The measurements 
of alveolar bone height were obtained from the radiographic images acquired for each patient in both groups. Two 
experienced dental radiologists independently analyzed the images, and the mean of their measurements was used to 
assess inter-observer reliability, which was found to be excellent with a high level of agreement between the two 
observers.
Conclusion: It is concluded that CBCT provided significantly more accurate and reliable measurements compared 
to digital panoramic radiography. This finding was supported by high inter-observer reliability and a statistically 
significant difference in alveolar bone height measurements between the two imaging modalities.