Dental Implant Surgery Preoperative Assessment

Diagnosis and Preoperative Assessment

• CBCT provides cross-sectional images of alveolar bone height, width, and angulation, and accurately illustrates vital structures, such as the inferior alveolar nerve canal (IAC) in the mandible or the sinus in the maxilla.
• Implant site assessment involves volumetric rendering with IAC tracing, which is useful for visualization of the relationships of the IAC to the roots of lower teeth, decreasing the likelihood of nerve damage during extraction.
• CBCT assists in the assessment of maxillofacial pathosis, including impacted canines and supernumerary teeth, fractured or split teeth, periapical lesions, and periodontal disease.

TMJ Examination

• CBCT imaging provides 3D images of the condyle and surrounding structures, facilitating analysis and diagnosis of osseous morphologic features, joint space, and function, critical for providing appropriate treatment outcomes in patients with TMJ signs and symptoms.
• CBCT imaging illustrates features of degenerative joint disease, developmental anomalies of the condyle, ankylosis, and rheumatoid arthritis.

Presurgical Treatment Planning

• CBCT is used for presurgical treatment planning to localize root apex/apices and evaluate proximity to adjacent anatomical structures.
• CBCT is used for diagnosis and management of limited dentoalveolar trauma, root fractures, luxation, and/or displacement of teeth, and localized alveolar fractures.

Orthodontics and Three-Dimensional Cephalometry

• CBCT is used to assess anomalies in the structure and eruption of teeth, evaluate dental-alveolar boundaries, and assess craniofacial skeletal asymmetry, maxillomandibular discrepancies, and temporomandibular joints.
• CBCT is used to evaluate airway morphology, plan for combined orthodontic and orthognathic surgical management, identify optimal locations for temporary anchorage devices, and assess skeletal and dental changes produced by maxillary expanders.

Treatment Planning and Virtual Simulations

• CBCT is used mainly for implant planning, orthognathic surgery simulation, and orthodontic appliances fabrication.
• CBCT plan for a potential implant site involves considerations of surgical and prosthetic requirements, providing interactive methods of translating prosthetic planning to the surgical site.

Endodontics

• Limited FOV CBCT imaging is indicated in patients with contradictory or nonspecific clinical signs and symptoms associated with untreated or previously endodontically treated teeth.
• CBCT is used for the initial treatment of teeth with potential for extra canals and suspected complex morphology, and dental anomalies.
• CBCT is used for intra-appointment identification and localization of calcified canals, and for evaluating nonhealing of previous endodontic treatment to determine the need for further treatment.

Learn about the importance of CBCT scans in assessing implant sites, including alveolar bone structure and vital structures like the inferior alveolar nerve canal.