Background: Evaluation of the maxillary sinus anatomy prior to sinus lift procedures is important to avoid surgical complications due to the close anatomical relationship between the posterior maxillary region and the maxillary sinüs. Introduction: In order to avoid traumatizing the posterior superior alveolar artery and to prevent perioperative bleeding, locating exact position of the artery is imperative before the surgical procedures. Methods: 150 CBCT scans were evaluated. The distance from the inferior border of the PSAA to the alveolar crest (the vertical line from the artery to the crest) and floor of maxillary sinus, the distance from PSAA to medial sinus wall, nasal septum, zygomatic arch, position, distance from floor of maksiller sinüs to the alveolar crest and diameter of the PSAA were assessed. Locations of the artery were classified. Results: The artery diameters were mostly ≥ 1 mm. Artery was mostly intraosseous (59.7%), 21.7 % was superficial and only 18.7% was intra-sinuscular. Conclusion: The location of PSAA is intraosseous in most patients. The artery diameters were mostly ≥ 1 mm and we can say that increasing the size also increases the risk of complications.

Hemangiomas are benign tumors of infancy that display a rapid growth phase with endothelial cell proliferation. Phleboliths are calcified thrombi found in veins, venulae and sinusoidal vessels of hemangiomas. In the head and neck, phleboliths nearly always signal the presence of a hemangioma. Hemangioma with multiple phleboliths is described including its features on panoramic radiography and cone beam computed tomography images.

Objectives: Condyle fractures constitute 17.5-52% of all mandibular fractures. Our first aim was to investigate whether Panoramic Radiography or Lateral Skull Projection images with lower radiation dose can be used instead of Cone Beam Computed Tomography in the diagnosis of vertical condylar fractures. The second aim of the study was to compare observers' capabilities in diagnosing these fractures. Materials and Methods:A sample consisting of 15 fresh cadaver mandibles with 30 condyles frozen within 24 hours post-mortem was randomly selected. Vertical fractures from the lateral 2/3 of the condyle head with 0.5 (10 condyles) and 1mm (10 condyles) thickness were created using a fret saw. After creating condyle fractures, digital panoramic, LSP, and CBCT images were acquired. Two dentomaxillofacial radiologists with 15 years of experience, two dentomaxillofacial radiologists with five and seven years of experience, and two newly graduated dentists have evaluated the images. The success of the observers in diagnosing the vertical condyle fracture in each imaging method, intra-observer and interobserver agreement was evaluated. Results:The success of all dentists in determining the condyle fractures using LSP images was higher than the success they achieved using panoramic images, but the sensitivity values of LSP and panoramic radiographs for detecting vertical condyle fractures were found to be below 50%. Using different imaging options with CBCT, all diagnoses made by new graduates and dentomaxillofacial radiologists with five and 15 years' experience were 100% compatible with the gold standard (AC1: 1 (1-1)). Conclusions:For the diagnosis of vertical condyle fractures, conventional techniques (panoramic and lateral jaw imaging methods) were found to be insufficient.

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Background To investigate whether any relationship between local alveolar bone density and maxillary canine impaction using gray values from cone beam computed tomography. Material and Methods The cone beam computed tomography images of 151 patients were retrospectively evaluated. Maxillary canine was defined as an impacted tooth when root formation was complete and the patient’s age older than 13 or the other side of the maxillary canine has completely erupted. Similarly, complete eruption was defined as the tooth in its expected occlusion and position. Using the cone beam computed tomography software, the region of interest which was 5 mm2 in area, was placed in the trabecular bone on cross sectional cone beam computed tomography images and the gray value measurements were recorded. After measuring the gray values of all the teeth, the images were grouped according to the field of view size. Comparison of the gray values of impacted and non-impacted teeth was made between images with the same field of view size. Results A total of 151 patients, 101 (66.9%) female and 50 (33.1%) male, were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 24.94 ±13.9. In images with a 40X40 field of view, the gray values of the impacted canine teeth were higher than the gray values of the non-impacted ones and statistically significant difference was found between them ( p =0.003). However no statistically significant difference was found between the gray values of impacted and non-impacted canine teeth in 60x60 and 100x50 field of view ( p =0.197, p =0.170, respectively). Conclusions We suggest using the smallest field of view size when evaluating bone density using gray values from cone beam computed tomography images and we support the idea that the local increased bone density may influence on impaction. Key words: Cone-beam computed tomography, tooth, impacted, bone density, maxilla, image processing, computer-assisted.

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