Preoperative application of limited cone beam computerized tomography as an assessment tool before minor oral surgery

Abstract

We describe the preoperative application of limited cone beam computerized tomography (CT) using a Dental three-dimensional (3D)-CT as an assessment tool before minor oral surgery. The Dental 3D-CT provided 42.7 mm-high and 30 mm-wide rectangular solid images. This size covered the height of the mandible with standing teeth. Dental 3D-CT clearly demonstrated lesions in the maxillary and mandibular bone. Resorption of the bone due to disease expansion was depicted more clearly on the Dental 3D-CT than on conventional radiographs. Information about lesion location and the relationship between the lesions and their adjacent anatomical structures, such as the mandibular canal and maxillary antrum, was useful for minor oral surgery. Due to its high resolution and low radiation dose, Dental 3D-CT was useful for preoperative examination prior to minor oral surgery.