Open AccessReliability assessment between clinical attachment loss and alveolar bone level in dental radiographs
Author(s) -
Farook Fathima Fazrina,
Alodwene Hussah,
Alharbi Rasha,
Alyami Meral,
Alshahrani Amjad,
Almohammadi Duaa,
Alnasyan Bothinah,
Aboelmaaty Wael
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
clinical and experimental dental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.464
H-Index - 9
ISSN - 2057-4347
DOI - 10.1002/cre2.324
Subject(s) - radiography , reliability (semiconductor) , dental alveolus , dentistry , medicine , orthodontics , radiology , power (physics) , physics , quantum mechanics
Abstract Background The clinical attachment level (CAL) and radiographically assessed bone levels are used to assess the loss of periodontal tissue support in periodontitis, a chronic, multifactorial inflammatory disease of the periodontium. However, few studies have been done to study the relationship between these two parameters. According to our knowledge, this is the first study investigating the relationship between the two measurements using intraclass correlation analysis. Aim The aim of the study is to investigate the relationship between CAL and radiographically assessed bone level in teeth affected with periodontitis. Methods A retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted by selecting a sample of 880 periodontal sites in 104 periodontitis patients, aged 25–60 years. CAL and peri‐apical radiographs of the selected sites were obtained from the computerized patient records. The distance from the cemento‐enamel junction (CEJ) to the base of the alveolar bone level (ABL) was measured. The data was analyzed using SPSS. Results Intraclass correlation analysis (ICC) revealed a moderate degree of reliability between CAL and CEJ to ABL measurements. The average ICC was 0.68 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.53–0.77 ( p < .001) indicating moderate to good reliability. Comparing the types of teeth, the central incisors, particularly the lower central incisors showed the highest ICC values (ICC: 0.822, CI: 0.77–0.86) indicating good reliability while the premolar and molars showed poor to moderate agreement (Maxillary premolars ICC: 0.464, CI: −0.18–0.74; maxillary first molar ICC: 0.516, CI: −0.154–0.772; mandibular first premolar ICC: 0.662, CI: 0.269–0.782; mandibular first molar ICC: 0.625, CI: 0.31–0.82). A moderate correlation existed between the radiographic and the clinical assessments ( r = 0.5, p < .001). Conclusion Despite the fact that significant varying levels of reliability has been found between CAL and radiographic bone level, both the clinical and radiographic examinations should be performed for the accuracy of diagnosis.