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Review
. 2013 Jan;4(1):2-6.
doi: 10.4103/0975-5950.117811.

Cone beam computed tomography in oral implants

Jyoti Gupta  1 , Syed Parveez Ali
Affiliations
Review

Cone beam computed tomography in oral implants

Jyoti Gupta et al. Natl J Maxillofac Surg. 2013 Jan.

Abstract

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanners for the oral and maxillofacial region were pioneered in the late 1990s independently by Arai et al. in Japan and Mozzo et al. CBCT has a lower dose of radiation, minimal metal artifacts, reduced costs, easier accessibility, and easier handling than multislice computed tomography (MSCT); however, the latter is still considered a better choice for the analysis of bone density using a Hounsfield unit (HU) scale. Oral implants require localized area of oral and maxillofacial area for radiation exposure; so, CBCT is an ideal choice. CBCT scans help in the planning of oral implants; they enable measurement of the distance between the alveolar crest and mandibular canal to avoid impingement of inferior alveolar nerve, avoid perforation of the mandibular posterior lingual undercut, and assess the density and quality of bone, and help in planning of the oral implant in the maxilla with special attention to the nasopalatine canal and maxillary sinus. Hence, CBCT reduces the overall exposure to radiation.

Keywords: Cone beam computed tomography; Hounsfield units; multislice computed tomography.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interest: None declared

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Cone beam computed tomography image demonstrating the possibility of lingual plate perforation by an implant
Figure 2
Figure 2
Three types of cross-sectional posterior mandibular morphology: (a) C type, (b) P type, and (c) U type; line A represented a reference line 2 mm coronal to the inferior alveolar nerve canal
Figure 3
Figure 3
Measurement between the accessory mental foramen and point of bifurcation from the mandibular canal: (a) Two-dimensional cone beam computed tomography image of the accessory mental foramen and point of bifurcation from the mandibular canal; (b) Linear distance between the accessory mental foramen and point of bifurcation from the mandibular canal; (c) Schematic drawing of 2D CBCT image (a)
Figure 4
Figure 4
Classification of anatomic variations of the nasopalatine canal:(a) A single canal; (b) Two parallel canals; (c) Variations of the Y type of canal, with one oral/palatal opening (¼ incisive foramen) and two or more nasal openings (¼ foramina of Stenson)
Figure 5a
Figure 5a
Type A nasopalatine canal (a single canal)
Figure 5b
Figure 5b
Type B nasopalatine canal (two separate canals) as evaluated in a coronal cone beam computed tomography image
Figure 5c
Figure 5c
Type C nasopalatine canal (Y configuration of canal) with one oral/palatal opening and two nasal openings
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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