Morita Accuitomo 170^®: Streaking Artifacts From 6 Different Endodontic Materials

Objectives: Introduction: Streaking artifacts from radiopaque materials in the axial plane can significantly decrease the diagnostic quality of images of endodontically treated teeth.
Aim: To measure the dimensions in the axial plane of known prefabricated shafts in a Perspex block, filled with 6 different endodontic materials.
Methods: Material and Methods: Perspex block prepared with 7 canals (2 x 2 x 20 mm):6 filled with (1)Dentsply® gutta percha β phase (gutta percha points), (2)Dentsply® gutta percha α phase (Calamus Flow), (3)Dentsply AHPlus Jet® sealer, (4)Ivoclar Apexit Plus® sealer, (5)Dentsply ProRoot MTA®, (6)Septodont Biodentine® respectively. Morita Accuitomo 170® CBCT exposure combinations: 66, 76, 86 kV and 2,4,6,8,10 mA and 180° or 360° rotation arc. Morita i-Dixel® software was used by a calibrated researcher (DM) to measure M-D and B-L diameters of each canal. All measurements were repeated 10 times. All results were immediately put into an Excel database.

Results: Results: Material (3) always created the greatest artifacts, while material (6) the least. Material (4) artifacts from 180° rotation were larger than at 360°. B-L measurements were significantly larger than M-D measurements (P<0.0001) irrespective of rotation arc. For 360° rotations: at 66 kV and 10 mA and 76 kV and 10 mA the B-L measurements were significantly larger than at 86 kV and 10 mA (P=0.0087 and P=0.0364); at 66 kV and 4 mA the M-D measurements were significantly larger than at 86 kV and 4 mA (P=0.0068): at 76 kV and 10 mA the M-D measurements were significantly larger than at 86 kV and 10 mA. For 180° rotations: at 66 kV and 4 mA the M-D measurements were significantly larger than at 76 kV or 86 kV and 4 mA (P=0.0005 and P=0.0058).

Conclusions: Conclusion: Different endodontic obturation materials result in different streaking artifacts. Bucco-lingual streaking tend to be significantly larger than mesiodistal streaking.