The usefulness of CBCT in the assessment of teeth and teeth-like impactions: a clinical appraisal

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) offers many advantages when compared to conventional radiography techniques in the exploration of dental impactions. The eight clinical cases presented in this paper demonstrate how CBCT, by means of sequential slices through the oral and maxillofacial complex, and 3D reconstruction of the area of interest, optimizes the evaluation of impactions by providing further information as to the size, shape, and position of impacted teeth and teeth-like structures and their effect on surrounding anatomical elements, and by eliminating any confusion that may arise when using conventional radiography. CBCT provides the dentist with a clear picture of the exact location and behavior of impacted teeth and teeth-like structures, thus a clearer picture of the treatment to be applied.