Article:
Soft Tissue Cone-Beam Computed Tomography: A Novel Method for the Measurement of Gingival Tissue and the Dimensions of the Dentogingival Unit
Summary:
The dimensions and relationships of the structures of the dentogingival unit have been greatly
overlooked because of the inability to easily and precisely determine them. The purpose of the
present study was to develop a soft tissue cone-beam computed tomography (ST-CBCT) to
improve soft tissue image quality and allow the determination of the dimensions and relationships
of the structures of the dentogingival unit. Two separate CBCT scans were obtained from
three patients with different periodontal biotypes. The first was a scan following standard
methods; however, for the ST-CBCT the patients wore a plastic lip retractor and retracted their
tongues toward the floor of their mouths. With the first scan, only measurements of the distance
of the cementoenamel junctional (CEJ) to the facial bone crest, and the width of the
facial alveolar bone were possible. In contrast, ST-CBCT allowed measurements of the distance
of the gingival margin to the facial bone crest, the gingival margin to the CEJ, and width of the
facial gingiva. ST-CBCT scans allowed a clear visualization, measurement of the dimensions,
and analysis of the relationship of the structures of the periodontium and dentogingival
attachment apparatus.