3D CBCT

If you have visited any of the recent dental exhibitions or conferences or read any of the dental press you cannot have failed to see the large number of companies promoting their latest 3D Cone Beam CT systems. Cone Beam Computerized Tomography (CBCT) is one of the most exciting technologies to reach dentistry in decades. Whilst primarily used by implant practices the newer systems can be applied to every aspect of dentistry, from general practice to periodontics, endodontics, orthodontics and oral maxillofacial surgery. This wide range of applications has changed dentistry into a three-dimensional world.This does not mean the end for 2D radiography but could make the selection of your next extra oral imaging machine more critical.

Today there are a wide number of digital panoramic (OPG) systems on the market so it can be difficult to choose which system suits your practice's current and future needs. Entry level systems normally take just adult, child and TMJ images. The next level up will take additional sectional images (left, right or anterior). The high end systems have enhanced image quality and some special functions like adaptive layer control, which removes image blur, and special scanning modes of the incisors, maxillary molars and the mandibular canal (fig 1).