Planning Interactive Implant Treatment with 3-D Computed Tomography

Mandibular Incisive Canal: Cone Beam Computed Tomography

“…In cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging, multiple thin axial slices are obtained through the jaws, and then the data are reformatted with special software packages to produce cross‐sectional and panoramic views. Computer software also is available to analyze the CBCT scans and to help in planning implant placement with electronically simulated fixtures 6,7 …”

“…7 The disadvantages of CBCT include limited availability, expense, higher doses of radiation compared with conventional radiographic techniques, and possible metallic streak artefacts (scatter). 7,8 Several authors have reported that measurements and dimensional accuracy are more precise when using CBCT scans over any other radiographic techniques. [8][9][10][11][12] When comparing CBCT scans and panoramic radiographs for dental implant planning and prediction of appropriate implant size, Ekestubbe 13 and Schropp and colleagues 14 found that, in approximately 70% of cases, the implant size changed when cross-sectional imaging was added to the preoperative evaluation.…”

Computed tomography, cone beam computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging diagnostic possibilities in dentistry

“…Because of the slicebased display of classical CT the information between the slices was missing or interpolated which led to a crude optical resolution in the z-direction (along the main axis of the human body). This technical shortcoming at the beginning compromised the application of classical CT for pre-implant planning [13]. It was apparent even in the early stages that the dose involved with conventional CT was rather high, hence the application in implant dentistry was regulated from early on by official guidelines [14].…”

Radiographic diagnosis in periodontics

“…The existing commercial software provides an excellent base for pre-implant diagnosis and treatment planning, and some commercially available software provides for the try-in of implants of different sizes on the cross-sectional slices. A system being developed in our laboratory at the Department of Periodontics, University of Alabama School of Dentistry allows the clinician to use a specially configured personal computer and images from the hospital computed tomography scanner or linear tomogram machine to try-in and place different lengths and styles of implants in 3 dimensions within the radiographic images to select the optimal implant for the situation and to display the selected implant position from several different viewpoints to assure that the selected implants can be placed in parallel to facilitate prosthetic reconstruction (32,36,37). The first step in using the interactive implant treatment planning program is to select a slice perpendicular to the arch of the mandible from the computed tomography or tomograms through the most desirable area to place the implant (Fig.…”