CBCT

Cone beam computed tomography is an innovative medical imaging technique that provides endodontists with three-dimensional views of the patient. In certain cases, CBCT greatly enhances the endodontist’s ability to diagnose, evaluate, treat and care for patients. It has become an indispensable diagnostic imaging tool for most clinical endodontics. In particular, high resolution limited field of view 3D imaging volumes of the jaws provide endodontists with greater diagnostic accuracy for tooth and root morphology and both tooth and bone related pathology when compared to regular intraoral digital 2D imaging. Because the use of CBCT imaging provides clinicians with a greater degree of confidence in detection of anatomic variations and pathology, it acts as an important clinical decision support tool in that it provides valuable information on when to treat, how to treat and, just as importantly when not to treat.

During a CBCT scan, the machine rotates around the patient, capturing images using a cone-shaped X-ray beam. These images are then used to construct a 3-D representation of the patient’s teeth, oral and maxillofacial region (mouth, jaw, and neck), and ears, nose, and throat.

In 2015, the AAE and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology issued a revised joint position statement on the use of CBCT in endodontics. The joint statement, an update from 2010, takes into account scientific literature from the past five years as well as research that indicates the effectiveness of 3-D imaging for endodontic diagnosis and treatment. The statement provides 11 specific recommendations and supporting evidence for when CBCT should be considered, and emphasizes that CBCT should not be used routinely for endodontic diagnosis or screening in the absence of clinical symptoms. Consistent with the principles of ALARA – keeping patient radiation doses “as low as reasonably achievable” – the statement notes that the patient’s history and clinical examination must justify the use of CBCT.

How CBCT Helps Endodontists Expose the Source of Tooth Pain

CBCT, or cone beam computed tomography, helps endodontists see very fine details inside teeth to provide the best diagnosis and treatment options for the patient. Watch this video to learn more about how this innovative 3-D imaging can help relieve your pain and save your tooth