La Tomografia Computerizzata 3D nella diagnosi cefalometrica delle disgnazie dento-maxillo-facciali

Objectives

The aim of this work was to compare traditional radiographic cephalometry with that based on three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) and to evaluate the pros and cons of two different 3D CT methods.

Materials and methods

Two adult patients were examined with traditional radiographic methods and with two different tomographic techniques: fan beam CT and cone beam CT. The cephalograms obtained with these methods were analyzed with a traditional digital cephalometric approach and with 3D cephalometric software.

Results and Conclusions

Computed Tomography provides more accurate information than traditional radiography since it eliminates the problems of deformation, magnifi cation, superimposition, and artifacts. It is especially useful in the presence of oral-maxillofacial dysgnathia since it allows study of the skull in each of the three dimensions. Cone beam technology uses a low dose of radiation and is less costly for patients and medical structures. With 3D cephalometric software, one can fully exploit the 3D data obtained with CT. It is especially valuable in the study of patients with maxillofacial asymmetry since the two sides of the face can be examined separately and then compared.