Applicability of cone beam computed tomography in dentistry: literature review

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a conventional tomography’s improvement, developed especially for the assessment of the maxillofacial region. CBCT produces three-dimensional images that allow its use in several areas of dentistry. The objective of this literature review is to show, based on the literature, the diversity of applications in the field of dentistry that such imaging has, highlighting its benefits and limitations in different dental specialties. The present study consists of exploratory research, carried out through a review of the narrative literature. The bibliographic survey was carried out by means of national and international journal articles, theses, dissertations and other publications, found in the digital library databases (Google Academic, BVS, Sciencedirect, Researchgate, Scielo, Wiley Online Library, Pubmed), from 2000 to 2020. The articles that precede these data were selected for their historical character on the proposed theme. It is concluded that dentists must be aware of the technological advances that occur in the field of dental imaging in order to manage diagnoses and treatments more efficiently, thus avoiding possible errors. CBCT demonstrates that it has multiple indications in different dental specialties, each case must be evaluated individually, analyzing the real need for its use. In cases where there is a need for its use, its cost-effectiveness is better than any disadvantage it may present.