CBCT in dentistry

Wheaton family dental practice

CBCT in dentistry

CBCT in dentistry is becoming much more common and the benefits are obvious. However, one must balance those benefits against the additional exposure of radiation.

Professional organizations stance on CBCT use in dentistry

AAE and AAOMR came out with a joint statement in 2015 stating that in the absence of clinical signs an symptoms, routine use of CBCT for diagnosis is not recommended.

AAOMR recommends cross sectional imaging for dental implants since 2000

“Because the 3D information obtained with CBCT cannot be obtained with other 2D imaging modalities, it is virtually impossible to predict which treatment cases would not benefit from having this additional information before obtaining it.” Benavides et al  So basically it’s not the standard of care but after you make an avoidable surgical mistake during dental implant placement, it does the patient no good to say this could have been avoided with a CBCT.

AAE position is to not use for routine cases but to use if retreat, complex anatomy (subjective), suspected root fracture, or root resorption.

AAO has a CYA position of basically use your clinical judgment.

AAOMR recommends entire data set is reviewed

Common findings include maxillary sinus mucosa, antral pseudocyst, concha bullosae link to surgery but I think a laser would be even better, tonsiliths 2, enostoses, TMJ remodeling, and undiagnosed PA pathology.

A list of the cone beam computed tomography units available for dentistry today

Following list includes many of the companies offering CBCT units in US and EU.  Units with only one company name likely not available in US.

We personally use the iCAT FLX

  1. Asahi Roetgen (AUGE ZIO)
  2. Biolase (Biolase DaVinci)
  3. Carestream (CS)
  4. Gendex (Gendex GX)
  5. Hitachi
  6. Imaging Sciences (i-CAT)
  7. Imtec 3M
  8. Instrumentarium (Orthopantomograph)
  9. J.Morita (3D Accuitomo. Veraviewepocs)
  10. MyRay (Hyperion, Skyview)
  11. Oy Ajat
  12. Planmeca (Promax)
  13. PreXion (PreXion 3D)
  14. Quatitative Radiology
  15. Ritter Imaging
  16. Sirona (Galileos, Orthophos)
  17. Soredex (Cranex, Scanora)
  18. Suni (Suni 3D)
  19. Vatech (Pax, Picasso)
  20. Xoran Technologies (xCAT ENT)

List of EU units and available voxel size.

 Image of CBCT in dentistry

CBCT in dentistry comparison research

Just some general notes on CBCT comparisons as well. VaTech makes own sensors and has 10 year warranty, Mike Scherer likes them the best. Adam Roca says renew digital says Carestream all break eventually and prefers VaTech. Jerome Smith and Danny use Prexion. Carl Jones has a Morita R100. Local endodontists all seem to have Carestream 8100.

CBCT for endodontics

PreXion 3D > iCAT Next Gen and Classic at canal location. PX1 setting similar dignositc with less ration than PX2 setting. Vavassori de Freitas JOE 2017

The Next Generation i-CAT was the most accurate system, followed by the Scanora 3D. The other three systems, Galileos 3D, NewTom 3G, and AccuiTomo-XYZ, were significantly less accurate in detecting vertical root fractures. Hassan JOE 2010

J Morita and 3 Shape did best Pinto JOE 2021