computed tomography

3D Printed Models for Wisdom Teeth Surgery Planning

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An interesting article titled “Physical Simulation Models in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery: A New Concept in 3-Dimensional Modeling for Removal of Impacted Third Molars,” written by Cervenka et al. appears in the 2019 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery. The article describes creating three-dimensional (3D) printed models for wisdom teeth surgery planning for particular use in residency training. The authors discuss how advances in 3D design and printing along with decreases in costs are making the use of surgical simulation models an option for clinical training. This can have particular use with residency training because of caps on the amount of hours residents can work and increasingly patients not wanting residents to participate in their surgeries. In the article the authors present a design and fabrication of a reusable 3D printed lower jaw model with a reconfigurable … Read more

Differences Among Classifying Wisdom Teeth using Panoramic X-rays and Cone-Beam Computed Tomography

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An interesting article titled “Is Panoramic Imaging Equivalent to Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for Classifying Impacted Lower Third Molars?” appears in the 2019 edition of the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery written by Brasil et al. The article explorers if panoramic radiography is able to give similar results as cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) for the degree of lower wisdom teeth impaction and when using panoramic radiography if the external oblique ridge is a reliable indicator for the degree of lower wisdom teeth impaction. In the article the authors discuss the Pell and Gregory classification which is used to classify the position of a wisdom tooth and can be used to potentially assess the risks of various complications. The authors state how wisdom teeth are usually evaluated using panoramic x-rays but this technique is susceptible to image overlap, magnification, and distortion, … Read more

Using Computed Tomograph (CT) To Lower the Incidence of Wisdom Teeth Removal Nerve Injuries

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A question that everyone who has wisdom teeth wants to know these days is the following: “If you use Computed Tomography (CT) can it lower the risk of developing a nerve injury from having wisdom teeth removed?” Three authors from Spain (Sanmarti-Garcia, Valmaseda0-Castellon, Gay-Escoda) recently conducted a study asking this question titled “Does Computed Tomography Prevent Inferior Alveolar Nerve Injuries Caused by Lower Third Molar Removal?” appearing in the Journal of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery (vol 70, pages 5-11, 2012). The issue is as stated by the authors is that “panoramic radiography alone cannot identify the buccolingual position of the mandibular canal and the 3M roots.” Computed tomography (CT) is able to show this information. Even so an estimated 40% of cases show superposition of the roots and the mandibular canal. Hence many of the potential CTs performed may potentially … Read more