Table 2 Anatomical landmarks of dental structures depicted in MRI and CT referring to imaging advantages

Endodontic system

Dental sac

Low attenuated tissue surrounding the reserve crown of growing cheek teeth (transverse)

High signal intensity, marked off by the alveolar bone with low signal intensity

(T2w and STIR, both transverse)*

Common pulp cavity

Low attenuated pulp tissue in young maxillary teeth (transverse)

Hyperintense soft tissue, present in young cheek teeth (T2w transverse, PDw dorsal)*

Pulps

Generally five pulp horns with very low density visible, moderate to well distinguishable from the hyperdense hard dental tissue;

Pulp: −350 to 500 HU (transverse)

Generally five hyperintense pulp horns visible

Very good distinction from the hard dental tissue (T2w, STIR transverse; PDw dorsal)*, especially in young cheek teeth

Anatomical crown

Tooth root

Isodense root (transverse)*

Isointense: with good alignment of the MRI scan, well demarcated structure (T2w transverse)

Clinical crown

Hard dental tissue, distinction to the oral cavity

Dentine, cement and enamel: distinction possible through the different grade of attenuation;

Hyperdense enamel and dentine;

slightly less opaque cement

(transverse, dorsal)*

Dentine, cement and enamel: signal free, not distinguishable (T2w and STIR transverse)

Distinction to the oral cavity not displayable, only visible where tongue with moderate signal intensity is in contact with the dental crown or saliva surrounds the tooth (T2w and STIR, transverse)