Quantitative tooth mobility evaluation based on intraoral scanner measurements

BackgroundTooth mobility assessment is subjective and current techniques require the translation of a continuous variable to a categorical variable based on the perception of the examiner. The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability of a novel technique to assess tooth mobility.MethodsThree experienced periodontists were asked to push tooth #16 into a buccal position to in a typodont model with different mobility (M1â M2). Tooth position was obtained using an intraoral scanner and files were compared in metrology software. Mobility was calculated at three reference points at the cervical (C), middle (M), and occlusal (O) regions of the buccal surface of the tooth to determine the linear deviation in the three axes (x, y, and z). Reliability was determined by intraclassâ correlation coefficient, differences between M1 and M2 determined by t test, and the analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare the data at the Câ Mâ O regions.ResultsExcellent reliability was assessed by Cronbach alpha >0.9 on the xâ yâ z axes for both mobility tested, except for M1â C X (0.85), M1â M Y (0.89), and M2â M Z (0.89). The correlation between the examiners demonstrated excellent (Ë 0.90) or good (0.75Ë x Ë 0.90) consistency, except for M1â C Y (0.73; examiner 1 to 2) and M1â M X (0.69; examiners 1 to 3). Significant changes were detected in all axes at the three reference points comparing M1 and M2, and a similar proportional change was observed between Oâ Mâ C reference points for M1 and M2.ConclusionA novel technique to assess tooth mobility based on intraoral scanner measurements provided reliable data in an in vitro experiment.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154459/1/jper10409_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154459/2/jper10409.pd