Abstract

LIMA, Regina Karla de Pontes; FARIA-JUNIOR, Norberto Batista de; GUERREIRO-TANOMARU, Juliane Maria  and  TANOMARU-FILHO, Mário. Diagnosis and planning in apical surgery: use of cone-beam tomography. RSBO (Online) [online]. 2010, vol.7, n.4, pp. 474-480. ISSN 1984-5685.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE: The ability to tridimensionally evaluate pathological and anatomical areas, in apical surgery planning, presents a number of advantages. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was developed for dental applications. This paper aims to present a literature review on CBCT, highlighting its advantages over both conventional computed tomography (CT) and radiography. Moreover, its clinical applications in apical surgery are discussed. LITERATURE REVIEW AND CONCLUSION: Unlikely CT, CBCT captures a volume of data in a single 360º rotation, providing benefits such as higher accuracy, better resolution, reduced scanning time and reduced radiation dose. In the maxillofacial region, CBCT has been mainly used in the assessment of dento-alveolar pathology and oral traumatology. CBCT provides a better diagnosis and quantitative information on periodontal bone levels than conventional radiography. It has also been used for patients requiring surgical facial reconstruction, orthognathic surgery, dental implants, and more complex tooth extractions. Besides that, it seems to be a significant tool in modern endodontic practice, presenting useful applications in apical surgery.

Keywords : oral surgery; three-dimensional imaging; cone beam computed tomography.