Objectives: to compare the diagnostic accuracy of CBCT with intraoral digital periapical radiography for the detection & measurements of artificially prepared periapical bone defects in dry human mandibles. Materials and methods: The study was conducted on 6 dry human mandibles, where 54 dental sockets were selected for the preparation of artificial periapical lesions. These lesions were drilled mechanically by the aid of dental drilling machine. Dental wax sheets where used for soft tissue simulation, then all samples were radiographed by digital periapical radiography (using the paralleling technique) and CBCT. All the radiographic images were then analyzed by 3 oral radiologists. Results: the highest interobservers agreement was found in CBCT (cross sectional view) in both detectability and measurements of the simulated periapical lesions followed by digital radiography and CBCT (reformatted panorama) respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in detectability and measurements of simulated periapical lesions between the two modalities; digital and CBCT (cross sectional and reformatted panoramic views) in the majority of simulated lesions. Conclusion: Both digital radiography and CBCT cross sectional& panoramic views can be used equally for the detection and measurements of small periapical lesions.