X-ray microtomography: Nondestructive three-dimensional imaging for in vitro endodontic studies

Article shows the application of a laboratory x-ray microtomography system, a miniaturized form of conventional computerized axial tomography, to the study of root canal morphologic characteristics and changes in the course of root canal treatment in extracted teeth. After reconstruction of the three-dimensional images, the IDL software package (Research Systems, Inc., Colorado) was used to obtain cross-sectional slices of the tooth and three-dimensional views of rendered surfaces of constant mineral density. The root canal systems and changes in these were imaged at a resolution (cubic voxel side-length) of ∼40 μm.