Recent advances in imaging technologies in implant dentistry

Dental implants have become a part of routine treatment plans in oral rehabilitation. Diagnostic imaging is critical to presurgical treatment planning and the success of implants. Various imaging modalities may aid the placing of implants in an appropriate location with relative ease and also obtain a predictable outcome. Cross-sectional imaging techniques such as computed tomography (CT) and, more recently, cone beam-computed tomography (CBCT) are invaluable during preoperative planning for endosseous dental implantation procedures. An understanding of geometric and software parameters, and image formatting options to maximize image display is necessary to optimize diagnostic yield while maintaining minimal patient radiation dose. Multiplanar CT or CBCT images contain far more detailed information of the maxillofacial region than do panoramic or other bidimensional (2D) images and necessitate a thorough knowledge of the tridimensional (3D) anatomy of the region and considerations of variability in the range of the anatomically normal. This article provides: (1) an overview of the fundamental principles of operation of maxillofacial CT and CBCT; (2) an understanding of image processing and display protocols specific to pre-implant bone assessment; (3) the basics of qualitative and quantitative bone evaluation; and (4) an introduction to image-guided implant surgery using custom or computer-generated surgical guides