Inter University Program on the use of Cone beam Ct for dentomaxillofcial diagnostics

Description

With the introduction of conebeam computed tomography (CBCT) in the early 2000s, oral and maxillofacial radiology fully entered the modern world of 3-dimensional (3D) radiographic imaging. Although conventional or medical computed tomography (CT) had been available since the 1970s, with few exceptions, it had not been widely used in dentistry. In the early days of conventional CT, the machines were limited in number, restricting their use to only the most beneficial of purposes--for example, imaging of the brain. The cost of a CT examination was also prohibitive. For these reasons, the modality in dentistry was used almost exclusively in oral and maxillofacial surgery and sparingly at that. Even as the limitations of access and cost disappeared, the cost-benefit ratio when the x-ray dose was compared in relation to the information to be gained was generally considered to be unfavorable for the use of CT scans in most dental applications. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has the potential to reduce the size and cost of CT scanners. This emerging technology produces images with isotropic sub-millimeter spatial resolution with high diagnostic quality, short scanning times of about 10-30 seconds, and radiation dosages of up to 15 times lower than those of conventional CT scans. It is ideally suited for dedicated dentomaxillofacial CT scanning. This technology provides dental practitioners with complete solution for performing specific diagnostic and clinical tasks, including implant planning, temporomandibular joint evaluation, facial fractures, dentoalveolar surgery, orthognathic surgery and periodontal surgery. CBCT is capable of providing a 3-dimensional representation of the maxillofacial hard tissues with minimal distortion. The objective of this article is to highlight the clinical applications of CBCT to oral and maxillofacial surgeons and other dental specialists in Nigeria. Conebeam x-ray CT (CBCT) is being increasingly used for point-of-service head and neck and dentomaxillofacial imaging. This technique provides relatively high isotropic spatial resolution of osseous structures with a reduced radiation dose compared with conventional CT scans. In this second installment in a 2-part review, the clinical applications in the dentomaxillofacial and head and neck regions will be explored, with particular emphasis on diagnostic imaging of the sinuses, temporal bone, and craniofacial structures. Several controversies surrounding the emergence of CBCT technology will also be addressed.

Period	21 May 2015 → 22 May 2015
Held at	KU Leuven, Belgium