Does the Use of Cone Beam CT for Wisdom Teeth Removal Change the Surgical Approach Compared With Panoramic Radiography?

An interesting article titled “Does the Use of Cone Beam CT for the Removal of Wisdom Teeth Change the Surgical Approach Compared With Panoramic Radiography?” appears in the Sept. 2015 Journal of Oral Maxilofacial Surgery supplement (vol. 73, issue 9, pg. e12) written by S.P. Aravindaksha. The present study looked at  if the additional information provided by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) images influences the surgical strategy in the treatment of patients with impacted mandibular wisdom teeth in high-risk cases. The study sought to explore if there is any difference in risk assessment for inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) when using CBCT or panoramic radiography. In the study patients with an increased risk of IAN injury, as diagnosed on panoramic radiographs, were enrolled in and underwent additional CBCT imaging. The study consisted of 52 impacted wisdom teeth from 36 patients (20 … Read more

New 3D Dental Scan Guidelines

Three-dimensional imaging systems now have new new guidelines for dentists. This has been extended to scanners  for UK and European practitioners. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), which gives a similar kind of image as a medical CT scan, is now available in high-street dental practices to give high-definition, three-dimensional scans of patients’ jaws and teeth. However, CBCT carries an increased risk associated with greater radiation dose than traditional dental X-rays. The guidelines hope to serve to establish the safe and ethical use of CBCT. In many European countries, dentists can purchase and use CBCT without any additional training. This caused for many to want to establish some guidelines. Among the guidelines about are when CBCT examinations may be justified, as well information about training, equipment and safety measures. Adapted from materials provided by University of Manchester, via AlphaGalileo.