Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Cone beam computed tomography is a diagnostic imaging technology that is changing the way dental practitioners view the oral and maxillofacial complex as well as the teeth and the surrounding tissues. CBCT has been specifically designed to produce undistorted three dimensional images similar to computed tomography (CT), but at a lower equipment cost, simpler image acquisition, and lower patient radiation dose. However the two-dimensional diagnostic imaging has served dentistry well and will continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Intraoral and panoramic radiographs are the basic imaging techniques used in dentistry and are quite often the only imaging techniques required for the detection of dental pathology. Use of CBCT imaging by both general and specialist practitioner will undoubtedly increases. This technology provides the clinician with an imaging modality with increase precision, acceptable patient dose, and the capability of visualizing the third dimension.