Background/Objectives: There are various challenges in the segmentation of anatomical structures with artificial intelligence due to the different structural features of the relevant region/tissue. The aim of this study was to detect the nasolacrimal canal (NLC) using the nnU-Net v2 convolutional neural network (CNN) model in cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) images and to evaluate the successful performance of the model in automatic segmentation. Methods: CBCT images of 100 patients were randomly selected from the data archive. The raw data were transferred to the 3D Slicer imaging software in DICOM format (Version 4.10.2; MIT, Massachusetts, USA). NLC was labeled using the polygonal type of manual method. The dataset was split into training, validation and test sets in a ratio of 8:1:1. nnU-Net v2 architecture was applied to the training and test datasets to predict and generate appropriate algorithm weight factors. The confusion matrix was used to check the accuracy and performance of the model. As a result of the test, the Dice Coefficient (DC), Intersection over Union (IoU), F1-Score and 95% Hausdorff distance (95% HD) metrics were calculated. Results: By testing the model, DC, IoU, F1-Scores and 95% HD metric values were found to be 0.8465, 0.7341, 0.8480 and 0.9460, respectively. According to the data obtained, the receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve was drawn and the AUC value under the curve was determined to be 0.96. Conclusions: These results showed that the proposed nnU-Net v2 model achieves NLC segmentation on CBCT images with high precision and accuracy. The automated segmentation of NLC may assist clinicians in determining the surgical technique to be used to remove lesions, especially those affecting the anterior wall of the maxillary sinus.

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the relation of the infraorbital canal course with the maxillary sinus using cone-beam computed tomography. A total of 1000 infraorbital canals (IOC) were examined from 500 cone-beam computed tomography scans. IOCs were classified into three types based on the degree of protrusion into the sinus. The presence of Haller cells and mucosal thickening in the sinus were evaluated. The length of bony septum from the canal to the sinus wall (D1), the distance at which protrusion begins posterior to the inferior orbital rim (D2), the vertical distance from the canal to the sinus roof (D3), and the vertical distance from the canal to the sinus floor (D4) were measured. The prevalence of IOC protrusion into the sinus was 8.8%. There was a significant difference in the prevalence of Haller cells between IOC types (P < 0.01). However, no significant correlation was found between IOC types and the presence of mucosal thickening (P > 0.05). There was no significant difference in the mean D1, D2, and D3 between the genders (P > 0.05). The mean D4 was significantly higher in males than in females (P < 0.05). The protrusion of infraorbital canals into the sinus is a common variation that must be considered to prevent accidental injury. Our findings suggest that the risk of injury to the descending canals is very low during routine dentoalveolar procedures because the protruded canal is not close to the sinus floor.

The aim of this study was to determine the location of the mandibular canal at the mental foramen region that is essential in order to prevent injuries to the inferior alveolar neurovascular bundle during mandibular surgical procedures.

The objective of this study was to assess the root apical closure ages of first permanent molars retrospectively among a group of western Turkish children aged between 5 and 15 years using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). CBCT images of 202 patients were examined. The patients were divided into 7 groups according to age: ≤8 years, 8–8.99 years, 9–9.99 years, 10–10.99 years, 11–11.99 years, 12–12.99 years, and ≥13 years. Teeth with at least one open apex were considered as ‘teeth with open apex’ and teeth with all closed apices were considered as ‘teeth with closed apex’. The data was evaluated by Pearson Chi-square test and Fisher's exact test. P value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Apical closure rate of the maxillary first molars was 4.1%, 32.2%, 55.4%, 76.2%, and 90.6% at 8–8.99 years, 9–9.99 years, 10–10.99 years, 11–11.99 years, and 12–12.99 years, respectively. Apical closure rate of the mandibular first molars was 4.4%, 41.2%, 70.7%, 80.0%, and 92.2% at 8–8.99 years, 9–9.99 years, 10–10.99 years, 11–11.99 years, and 12–12.99 years, respectively. At 12–12.99 years, females had a significantly higher rate of closed root apices of mandibular first molars than males (P < 0.05). At 9–9.99 and 12–12.99 years, females had a significantly higher rate of closed root apices of maxillary molars than males (P < 0.05). CBCT is a useful tool for the evaluation of root development. The results of present study can provide valuable aids for clinicians during root canal treatment of permanent first molars.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the maxillofacial structures of individuals with unilateral cleft lip and palate (UCLP) and healthy controls using cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: The study included a total of 90 subjects, comprising 45 randomly selected individuals with UCLP (30 males and 15 females, mean age 14.69 ± 3.95 years) in the study group and 45 healthy individuals (30 males and 15 females, mean age 14.46 ± 3.65 years) in the control group. Maxillofacial measurements were taken in three different planes and categorized into five groups, namely vertical, facial, cranial, maxillary, and mandibular. In the statistical comparison between groups, the significance level was determined as p < 0.05. Results: There were no significant differences in the age and gender distributions between the groups (p > 0.05). Upper anterior face height and posterior face height in the UCLP group were found to be significantly shorter than the control group (p < 0.05). Midface width and depth were inadequate in the UCLP group (p < 0.05). Anterior and posterior cranial base lengths were significantly shorter in individuals with UCLP (p < 0.05). Nasal width and interorbital width were significantly greater in the UCLP group (p < 0.05). In addition, maxillary width, maxillary length, and mandibular width were significantly shorter in the UCLP group than in the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusions: While the control group exhibited generally longer measurements in all three dimensions compared to the study group, the skeletal structures adjacent to the cleft demonstrated the most notable developmental deficiency.