Diagnostic Accuracy of Different Devices and Settings of Cone-beam Computed Tomography in Detecting Intra-radicular Broken File; An in Vitro Study

Background and Aim: The resolution and diagnostic potential of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) images can be affected by variations in radiation parameters, including radiation dosage, maximum kilovoltage (kVp), and voxel size. The present study evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of different devices and settings of CBCT in detecting intra-root canal broken files. Materials and Methods: Seventy-two extracted human single-rooted teeth were used in this in vitro investigation. The samples were randomly divided into two groups based on the type of device: Vatech (n=36) and Newtom (n=36). Additionally, samples from each group were divided into two subgroups according to kVp and radiation exposure. Statistical analysis of the data was performed at a significance level of 0.05 using SPSS 26. The ratios in the two computed tomography scans were examined using the chi-squared test. Results: The results showed that the parameters of accuracy, specificity, sensitivity, positive and negative predictive values in identifying broken files within the canal for the two CBCT devices were 86.11%, 88.88%, 83.33%, 88.23%, 84.21%, 91.66%, 94.44%, 88.88%, 94.11%, and 89.47%, respectively. The radiation exposure parameters did not significantly affect the detection of broken files within the root canal in any of the two CBCT systems. Conclusion: The two CBCT devices used in this investigation did not significantly differ in their ability to identify broken files inside the canal.