Intra- and extra-oral radiography. During the radiological examination, periapical films (intra-oral) and panoramic radiographs (extra- oral) of all transplanted teeth were taken. Periapical radiographs highlighted the teeth from either the upper or lower jaw in one part of the mouth. It was important to image the total length of the teeth with at least 2mm of the periapical bone. A film was placed into the mouth of the patient using a plastic film holder device in the required position to obtain a good-quality image. Once the film was positioned and stable, the cone of the X-ray unit was directed toward the film causing the film to be exposed. The exposure parameters for periapical radiographs were 70 kV, 7mA and 0,06s. Panoramic radiographs, more specifically orthopantomographs (OPG), were made with the film outside the mouth. The panoramic view has the advantage of simply and quickly offering a good scan of all teeth on both upper and lower jaws. The exposure parameters for panoramic radiographs were 66kV, 10mA and 5s. In addition, CBCT images were collected from all patients to evaluate the radiological parameters. At the department OMF of the St. John’s Hospital in Genk, the cone-beam scanner Galileos (Sirona, Bensheim, Germany) is used. The scan parameters for a 3D volumetric cone-beam scan from Galileos were 85kV, 7mA and 14s. The Galileos device features a fixed field of view of 15cm resulting in a scan volume of 15cm x 15cm x 15cm with a resolution of 300µm. Radiological examination contributed to the evaluation of root resorption (intern/extern), pulp obliteration, lamina dura formation, alveolar bone loss and apical inflammation. In contrary to preoperative parameters (root development and apical anomaly) which had to be estimated from analog radiographs, postoperative parameters could be evaluated from digital radiographs.
