OBJECTIVETo evaluate the accuracy of cone-beam CT (CBCT) for detection of bone defects in chronic periodontitis and its consistency with periapical film, panoramic radiograph and clinical examination.

METHODSSeventy-five patients with periodontitis were selected in the study. Each patient received clinical examination, periapical film, panoramic radiograph and CBCT examination one week after supragingival scaling. The distance from the alveolar ridge crest to enamelo-cemental junction was measured. The data were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSA total of 1 494 teeth and 8 964 sites were included in the study. Among the three kinds of imaging methods only CBCT could detect the lip (buccal) or tongue (palatine) side of alveolar bone destruction. Compared with panoramic radiographs[mesial: (4.9±0.4) mm, distal: (4.9±0.8) mm] and periapical film [mesial: (5.1±0.6) mm, distal: (5.1±0.8) mm], CBCT [mesial: (5.5±0.4) mm, distal: (5.6±0.8) mm] showed significant differences (P < 0.01) in alveolar bone defect measurements in detecting mesial and distal alveolar bone defect. There was no significant difference between clinical probing [mesial: (5.5±0.6) mm, distal: (5.5±0.6) mm] and CBCT.

CONCLUSIONSCBCT have the highest consistency with clinical probing in detecting the alveolar bone loss in chronic periodontitis.