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Visualisation of dental anatomy in CBCT scans: Part 1

British Dental Journal volume 237, pages 109–116 (2024)Cite this article

Abstract

To the trained eye, every tooth is different. An in-depth understanding of dental anatomy in cross-sectional images is a fundamental basic skill required when interpreting cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. The conventional orthogonal planes of axial, coronal, and sagittal are not always the best planes in which to assess teeth because every tooth is at a slightly different angle to all these planes. In this chapter, the author demonstrates the characteristic anatomy of upper and lower incisors, canines, premolars, and molars in longitudinal and transverse sections, using carefully uprighted images. Some of these teeth are also shown in transverse section at various levels in the crown and root. The chronology of permanent teeth is shown. Developing teeth are discussed and incremental growth lines are mentioned.

The author describes three well-known dental notation systems (Palmer, FDI, hybrid).

There are four videos accompanying this chapter, including one fascinating video showing a scroll-through of all the cross-arch sections of a synthetic panoramic (curved multiplanar reconstruction) image that includes all the upper and lower teeth in a 16-year-old.

Key points

  • Coronal and sagittal CBCT sections of teeth are easy for dentists to understand because they resemble conventional dental radiographic images.

  • Familiarity with axial (transverse) sections of teeth are important in the full interpretation of dental CBCT scans.

  • The explanation about dental notation systems should help clinicians to understand each other if they happen to use different systems.

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References

  1. Berkovitz B K B, Holland G R, Moxham B J. Oral Anatomy, Histology and Embryology. 5th ed. Amsterdam: Elsevier, 2018.

  2. Van Beek G C. Dental Morphology - An Illustrated Guide. 2nd ed. Wright, 1983.

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Acknowledgements

The BDJ Editorial Team would like to thank the authors of this chapter for granting us permission to republish their chapter within our journal. This chapter was first originally published in in S. Y. Ng, Cone Beam CT in Dentistry, BDJ Clinician's Guides, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-25480-2_2. The second half of this chapter will be republished in an upcoming issue of the BDJ.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dental Radiology, Guy´s Hospital and King´s College London, London, UK

    Suk Y. Ng

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  1. Suk Y. Ng
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Correspondence to Suk Y. Ng.

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Ng, S. Visualisation of dental anatomy in CBCT scans: Part 1. Br Dent J 237, 109–116 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7568-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-024-7568-4

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