Evaluation of Three Imaging Techniques for the Detection of Vertical Root Fractures in the Absence and Presence of Gutta‐Percha Root Fillings

Aim To compare the accuracy of digital radiography (DR), multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in detecting vertical root fractures (VRF) in the absence and presence of gutta-percha root filling. Methodology The root canals of 100 extracted human single-rooted teeth were prepared and randomly divided into four groups: two experimental groups with artificially fractured root and two intact groups as controls. In one experimental and one control group, a size 40, 0.04 taper gutta-percha cone was inserted in the root canals. Then DR, MDCT and CBCT were performed and the images evaluated. Statistical analyses of sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of each imaging technique in the presence and absence of gutta-percha were calculated and compared.