Cone-beam computed tomography: Small cone big scoop!

Introduction of Cone-Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) represents a radical change and it is making a breakthrough because of its low effective radiation dose, unique accessibility and low cost with major contributions in the Dentomaxillofacial field. CBCT scanners utilize a cone-shaped ionizing radiation and a two-dimensional detector which allow for a single rotation of the gantry to generate a scan of the entire region of interest. A plethora of applications have been developed that use the 3-dimensional data for a variety of tasks: dentomaxillofacial imaging, implant site assessment, orthodontic planning, impacted tooth evaluation, jaw pathologies, cephalometric analysis, TMJ analysis, periodontal diseases, radiotherapy guidance and more. The virtual modeling and development of a 3D setup that displays individual crowns, roots and craniofacial structures would greatly help the clinician in diagnosis and treatment planning, to determine various treatment options, monitor changes over time, predict and display final treatment results, and measure treatment outcomes accurately. In short, it is ideally suited for high quality and affordable CT scanning of head and neck. CBCT has often been described as the gold standard for imaging oral and maxillofacial area and will definitely become a part of everyday life of most practices in the coming decades. This poster is presented as a review about the development, principle, diagnostic value, benefits and limitations of the emerging diagnostic modality- CBCT. Schlagwörter: cone-beam computed tomography, CBCT, dentomaxillofacial radiology, diagnostic imaging