DENTOMAXILLOFACIAL RADIOLOGY, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objectives: This study aimed to compare crestal facial bone measurements obtained from ultrasonography (USG) and cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). Methods: A total of 200 teeth from 15 systemically healthy individuals were included. Teeth were categorized as maxillary anterior (n = 50), maxillary posterior (n = 50), mandibular anterior (n = 50), and mandibular posterior (n = 50). Marginal bone level (MBL) and facial bone thickness at 1 mm (MBT-1), 2 mm (MBT-2), and 3 mm (MBT-3) apical to the bone crest were measured using both USG and CBCT. USG imaging utilized an 18 MHz transducer in B-mode, with standardized settings. Measurements were repeated twice by 2 independent examiners to assess intra- and inter-observer reliability. Interclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and Bland-Altman plots were used for statistical comparisons. Results: The ICCs between examiners ranged from 0.812 to 0.980. MBL, MBT-1, and MBT-2 measurements between ultrasound and CBCT readings showed excellent agreement (ICCs > 0.75). The agreement for MBT-3 in mandibular anterior was fair (ICC: 0.528). Overall, mean difference between the 2 methods for MBL was 0.06 mm and for MBT-1 was 0.018 mm, without systematic bias. Conclusions: Ultrasound can be a valuable and reproducible tool for MBL and MBT-1 measurements, and it can serve as an alternative to CBCT. Despite reasonable agreement in MBT-2 and MBT-3, potential variability should be considered.