Cone beam computed tomography: third eye in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Orthodontic treatment of adult patients with complex dental problems is done in interdisciplinary teams where different specialists of dental medicine have to manage a vast quantity of data. In such complicated cases good diagnostic tools and easy communication are essential Computer science has an increasing impact in almost every aspect of the orthodontic practice, research and education. Within the past decade, technology termed "cone beam computed tomography" (CBCT) has evolved that allows 3-D visualization of the oral and maxillofacial complex from any plane. With the development of Cone Beam Computed Tomography, there has been a drastic reduction in radiation exposure to the patient, which allows its use for safely obtaining three dimensional images of the craniofacial structures. This should allow the clinician to visualize the hard and soft tissues of the craniofacial region from multiple perspectives, which could have far-reaching implications for treatment planning in orthodontics and orthognathic surgery. This paper shall discuss in detail the principles of the cone beam computed tomography and its applications in the field of orthodontics.