Cone-beam CT diagnostic applications: caries, periodontal bone assessment, and endodontic applications

Dent Clin North Am. 2008 Oct;52(4):825-41, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.cden.2008.05.002.

Abstract

Cone-beam CT (CBCT) is useful for many maxillofacial applications, such as implant site imaging and diagnosis and treatment planning for orthodontics and craniofacial surgery. Dentoalveolar applications, such as carious lesion detection and characterization, assessment of the three-dimensional nature of periodontal bone topography, and various endodontic applications are less known and not as thoroughly studied. This article explores and assesses in vivo and in vitro efforts to apply CBCT imaging to these more common dentoalveolar tasks. CBCT imaging, like its medical counterpart, can be seen as a highly useful and, in some instances, indispensable part of the dental imaging armamentarium.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alveolar Process / diagnostic imaging*
  • Cone-Beam Computed Tomography / methods*
  • Dental Caries / diagnostic imaging*
  • Dental Pulp Cavity / diagnostic imaging
  • Dental Pulp Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Humans
  • Imaging, Three-Dimensional / methods
  • Periapical Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Periodontal Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Radiography, Dental / methods*
  • Root Canal Therapy / methods*
  • Tooth Root / diagnostic imaging