| Abstract text: |
Ortopantomography is an extra-oral body-section radiography depicting an entire maxilla, or both maxilla and mandible, on a single film. The only drawback of this technique is the fact that this type of radiographic examination scans the patient bi-dimensionally. This type of radiography does not offer depth or any other indication about thickness, shape, way or direction of the structures being shown. The introduction of Cone Beam Computer Tomography (CBCT) imagistics in the maxilo-facila radiology has opened new horizons for the use of 3D imaging as a diagnostic and treatment planning instrument for specialists in orthodontic rehabilitation, Periodontics, Implant dentistry, ORL and also oral and maxilo-facial surgery. When the CBCT technology was introduced in the US in 2001 it was widely adopted by dentists in a very short time since it permits a better diagnostic as well as a better result analysis compared with conventional bidimensional radiography. Thanks to this new and revolutionary imagistic technology, associated with a better understanding of the biological maxilo-facial development processes we can now create and interact with virtual models of teeth and other patient’s maxillary structures, which permits us to offer a higher quality level of treatment. CBCT has many uses because the scanned images are very accurate, the scale is 1:1 and one can take very accurate 3D measurements. It is a very helpful tool starting with endodontic treatments to surgery, implants, orthodontics, paradontology, etc. The great results obtained make us appreciate that this technology will become a standard for most practitioners. |
