Following the invention of the first computed tomography (CT) scanner in the early 1970s, many innovations in threedimensional (3D) diagnostic imaging technology have occurred, leading to a wide range of applications in craniofacial clinical practice and research. Three-dimensional image analysis provides superior and more detailed information compared with conventional plain two-dimensional (2D) radiography, with the added benefit of 3D printing for preoperative treatment planning and regenerative therapy. Current state-of-the-art multidetector CT (MDCT), also known as medical CT, has an important role in the diagnosis and management of craniofacial injuries and pathology. Three-dimensional cone beam CT (CBCT), pioneered in the 1990s, is gaining increasing popularity in dental and craniofacial clinical practice because of its faster image acquisition at a lower radiation dose, but sound guidelines are needed to ensure its optimal clinical use. Recent innovations in micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) have revolutionized craniofacial biology research by enabling higher resolution scanning of teeth beyond the capabilities of MDCT and CBCT, presenting new prospects for translational clinical research. Even after four decades of refinement, CT technology continues to advance and broaden the horizons of craniofacial clinical practice and phenomics research.Keywords: Multidetector CT, cone beam CT, micro-CT, dentistry, teeth.Abbreviations and acronyms: 2D = two-dimensional; 3D = three-dimensional; CBCT = cone beam computed tomography; CLP = cleft lip and palate; CT = computed tomography; DEJ = dentino-enamel junction; FGFR2 = fibroblast growth factor receptor 2; micro-CT = micro-computed tomography; MDCT = multidetector computed tomography; MRI = magnetic resonance imaging; nano-CT = nanocomputed tomography; OPG = orthopantomograph; PET = positron emission tomography.

This study has established new reference data for tooth size and arch dimensions in Malays and demonstrated patterns of variation that are relevant to anthropologists interested in making comparisons within and between different populations and also to clinicians developing treatment plans for their patients. The study confirmed the accuracy of the 3D photogrammetric method for measuring dental casts.