A large odontometric reference database is essential for a clear and reliable differentiation between the teeth of dogs and wolves found in archaeological contexts. However, the data compilation of skeletal material is a slow process because access to dog remains may be difficult. The expansion of a dental database could benefit from computed tomography (CT) scans performed on live dogs during medical appointments and archived in veterinary clinics. To enable it, however, the reliability and accuracy of digital measurements must first be validated. This is the main objective of this paper.

We tested the accuracy of dental measurements obtained from CT scans of deceased modern dogs and one Mesolithic dog. CT measurements were obtained using multi-planar reconstruction (MPR) (bi-dimensional images) and three-dimensional volume rendering (3D VR), either using bone or soft tissue windows. Then, measurements were compared with data obtained with a conventional caliper (Fischer Darex®, France). The sample comprised 25 maxillary fourth premolars and 17 maxillary canines. Measurements included the mesiodistal length (MDL) and the vestibular palatine width (VPW). Intra- and inter-observer variations were assessed by calculating the technical error of measurement (TEM). This approach was also used to assess the level of agreement between both techniques, complemented by a Bland-Altman analysis.

Intra-observer (TEM = 0.52% to 5.98%) and inter-observer variations (TEM = 3.15% to 7.14%) were relatively small for most standard measurements, windows, and CT approaches. In the case of the MPR approach, the soft tissue window provided less observer variation on the fourth premolar; the same occurred for the bone window regarding the canine. The soft tissue window generally provided less observer variation with the VR approach. CT and caliper agreement ranged from 2.89% to 7.31% (MPR), and from 2.92% to 9.42% (3D VR). At least 91% of the CT measurements were within the Bland-Altman 95% confidence interval. We were able to carry out a thorough odontometric study of the Muge dog skull – a specimen dated to the Mesolithic period, using the MPR approach (with both bone and soft tissue windows).

Both the MPR and VR CT scan approaches were validated, thus confirming digital data as an alternative way to generate more comprehensive odontometric references.

一个大型的牙齿测量参考数据库对于在考古环境中发现的狗和狼的牙齿之间进行清晰可靠的区分至关重要。然而，骨骼材料的数据汇编是一个缓慢的过程，因为获取狗遗骸可能很困难。牙科数据库的扩展可以受益于在医疗预约期间对活狗进行的计算机断层扫描 (CT) 扫描并存档在兽医诊所。然而，要启用它，必须首先验证数字测量的可靠性和准确性。这是本文的主要目标。

我们测试了从已故现代狗和一只中石器时代狗的 CT 扫描中获得的牙科测量的准确性。CT 测量是使用多平面重建 (MPR)（二维图像）和三维体积渲染 (3D VR) 获得的，使用骨骼或软组织窗口。然后，将测量结果与使用传统卡尺（Fischer Darex®，法国）获得的数据进行比较。样本包括 25 个上颌第四前磨牙和 17 个上颌尖牙。测量包括近远中长度（MDL）和前庭腭宽度（VPW）。通过计算测量技术误差 (TEM) 来评估观察者内和观察者间的变化。这种方法还用于评估两种技术之间的一致性水平，并辅以 Bland-Altman 分析。

对于大多数标准测量、窗口和 CT 方法，观察者内部（TEM = 0.52% 至 5.98%）和观察者间变化（TEM = 3.15% 至 7.14%）相对较小。在 MPR 方法的情况下，软组织窗口在第四前磨牙上提供的观察者变化较小；关于犬齿的骨窗也发生了同样的情况。软组织窗口通常通过 VR 方法提供较少的观察者变化。CT 和卡尺一致性范围为 2.89% 至 7.31% (MPR)，以及 2.92% 至 9.42% (3D VR)。至少 91% 的 CT 测量值在 Bland-Altman 95% 置信区间内。我们能够使用 MPR 方法（具有骨骼和软组织窗口）对 Muge 狗头骨进行彻底的牙齿测量研究——这是一个可追溯到中石器时代的标本。

MPR 和 VR CT 扫描方法都得到了验证，从而确认数字数据是生成更全面的牙齿测量参考的替代方法。