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Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2011; 111: 234–7, J Endod 2011; 37: 274–277 and www.aae.org/guidelines

In contrast to conventional planar radiography, CBCT allows visualisation of teeth and surrounding structures in three dimensions and, in addition, it overcomes some of the issues associated with 'complex anatomy and surrounding structures'. This Guideline and Position Statement 1) reports the results of a web-based survey of members of the American Association of Endodontists, and then 2) makes recommendations as to the uses of CBCT. Despite over one third of respondents stating that they used CBCT, it is recommended that 'CBCT must not be used routinely for endodontic diagnosis or for screening purposes...' and used only as '...an adjunct to two-dimensional imaging in dentistry.' Yet this has to be balanced with 'informed refusal'. When informed refusal is made, it is suggested that the practitioner must state in the clinical notes why the patient has declined CBCT.