DIAGNOSTIC EFFICACY OF CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CBCT) IN CHRONIC PERIODONTITIS - A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW AND META ANALYSIS

Aim: To evaluate better diagnostic efficacy between cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and other conventional imaging techniques for periodontal parameters in chronic periodontitis (CP)

Methods: Review adhered to with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines and registered in PROSPERO- CRDXXXX. Databases were searched from January 2000 to May 2024 for studies evaluating the diagnostic efficacy or accuracy of CBCT compared to conventional radiographic techniques and evaluating outcome in terms of periodontal parameters like furcation width, horizontal bone loss, vertical bone loss and bone defects. Quality assessment was evaluated using Cochrane risk of bias (ROB) -2 tool for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) through its domains using Review manager (RevMan) software version 5.3.

Results: Eight studies were included in qualitative synthesis and four studies for meta-analysis. Quality assessment revealed a moderate to low risk of bias. The results of meta-analysis, showed that for furcation width -0.59 (-1.87 - 0.69), horizontal bone loss 1.56 (-2.11 - 5.24), vertical bone loss 1.62 (-1.94 - 5.19) and bone defects -0.78 (-2.19 - 0.64) were detected better by CBCT imaging. Also, funnel plot did not show any asymmetry indicating absence of possible publication bias in meta-analysis.

Conclusion: CBCT overall was more accurate and provided more quantitative data with greater precision and lesser deviations compared to conventional imaging techniques in chronic periodontitis. However, furthermore studies showed be conducted with robust methodology with proper standardization protocols to validate the study findings.

Clinical Significance: The study highlights the clinical significance of CBCT in diagnosing chronic periodontitis, emphasizing its superior accuracy, precision, and three-dimensional imaging capabilities compared to conventional radiographs. These advantages are critical for accurately detecting periodontal defects, guiding treatment decisions, and improving outcomes in complex cases. The study also calls for further research with standardized protocols to validate these findings and support CBCTs broader clinical application.