Assessment of cortical bone microdamage following insertion of microimplants using optical coherence tomography: a preliminary study

Application of three-dimensional reconstruction technology in dentistry: a narrative review

BACKGROUND

Three-dimensional(3D) reconstruction technology is a method of transforming real goals into mathematical models consistent with computer logic expressions and has been widely used in dentistry, but the lack of review and summary leads to confusion and misinterpretation of information. The purpose of this review is to provide the first comprehensive link and scientific analysis of 3D reconstruction technology and dentistry to bridge the information bias between these two disciplines.

METHODS

The IEEE Xplore and PubMed databases were used for rigorous searches based on specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, supplemented by Google Academic as a complementary tool to retrieve all literature up to February 2023. We conducted a narrative review focusing on the empirical findings of the application of 3D reconstruction technology to dentistry.

RESULTS

We classify the technologies applied to dentistry according to their principles and summarize the different characteristics of each category, as well as the different application scenarios determined by these characteristics of each technique. In addition, we indicate their development prospects and worthy research directions in the field of dentistry, from individual techniques to the overall discipline of 3D reconstruction technology, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Researchers and clinicians should make different decisions on the choice of 3D reconstruction technology based on different objectives. The main trend in the future development of 3D reconstruction technology is the joint application of technology.

Diagnostic value of optic disc retinal nerve fiber layer thickness for diabetic peripheral neuropathy

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the value of optic disc retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness in the diagnosis of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN).

METHODS

Ninety patients with type 2 diabetes, including 60 patients without DPN (NDPN group) and 30 patients with DPN (DPN group), and 30 healthy participants (normal group) were enrolled. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) was used to measure the four quadrants and the overall average RNFL thickness of the optic disc. The receiver operator characteristic curve was drawn and the area under the curve (AUC) was calculated to evaluate the diagnostic value of RNFL thickness in the optic disc area for DPN.

RESULTS

The RNFL thickness of the DPN group was thinner than those of the normal and NDPN groups in the overall average ((101.07± 12.40) µm vs. (111.07±6.99) µm and (109.25±6.90) µm), superior quadrant ((123.00±19.04) µm vs. (138.93±14.16) µm and (134.47±14.34) µm), and inferior quadrant ((129.37±17.50) µm vs. (143.60±12.22) µm and (144.48±14.10) µm), and the differences were statistically significant. The diagnostic efficiencies of the overall average, superior quadrant, and inferior quadrant RNFL thicknesses, and a combined index of superior and inferior quadrant RNFL thicknesses were similar, and the AUCs were 0.739 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.635-0.826), 0.683 (95% CI 0.576-0.778), 0.755 (95% CI 0.652-0.840), and 0.773 (95% CI 0.672-0.854), respectively. The diagnostic sensitivity of RNFL thickness in the superior quadrant reached 93.33%.

CONCLUSIONS

The thickness of the RNFL in the optic disc can be used as a diagnostic method for DPN.

Analysis of Enamel Loss by Prophylaxis and Etching Treatment in Human Tooth Using Optical Coherence Tomography: An In Vitro Study

Bonding of braces is an essential part in contemporary orthodontic treatment. For the proper strength of bracket bonding, enamel conditioning or surface treatment on tooth surface is required. Treatment on the tooth surface such as prophylaxis smoothing with pumice and enamel etching results in considerable damages to the enamel surface of the tooth. In this study, we have proposed optical coherence tomography as a noninvasive imaging technique for the evaluation of damage induced during such treatment procedures. Using depth intensity analysis of the obtained cross-sectional images, the damage resulting to the enamel surface was studied after prophylaxis smoothening and etching steps.