Abstract
The development of radiology, rapid prototyping techniques, and the increasingly common use of 3D printing in dentistry inspires the use of these techniques to improve diagnostic and therapeutic processes. This study aimed to conduct a retrospective comparative analysis of dental panoramic radiographs, cone-beam computed tomography, and 3D printing in preoperative assessment of the procedure’s difficulty. Thirty clinical cases with a high degree of difficulty were selected, and based on evaluation with CBCT, a virtual 3D model of the region of surgical procedure was created, which was then printed using a 3D printer. The comparative analysis included the linear measurements performed in dental panoramic radiographs, cone-beam computed tomography, and 3D models in a preoperative assessment of the degree of retention and difficulty of impacted mandibular third molars in the mandible. Linear measurements performed on dental panoramic radiographs were significantly lower than in cone-beam computed tomography and 3D models. No statistically significant differences were obtained in linear measurements between 3D models and cone-beam computed tomography images except for the measurement of the lingual lamina thickness; however, due to the insignificant differences in measurements, with a mean of only 80 µm, the elective procedure of removal of the impacted third molar in the mandible may be safe.
Highlights
The qualification for removing impacted mandibular third molars is preceded by anamnesis and a physical examination of the patient including additional examinations such as radiographic diagnostics
The most common method used to diagnose the presence of impacted third molars is panoramic radiography [1]
This study aimed to compare the measurements on OPG, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), and 3D models and determine whether OPG is sufficient to evaluate the difficulty of removing a mandibular third molar
Summary
The qualification for removing impacted mandibular third molars is preceded by anamnesis and a physical examination of the patient including additional examinations such as radiographic diagnostics. Asymptomatic impacted third molars are often detected incidentally on panoramic radiographs taken routinely during the planning of general dental treatment. The most common method used to diagnose the presence of impacted third molars is panoramic radiography [1]. An accurate assessment of the morphology of impacted third molars based on a panoramic radiograph may be complicated due to the conditions of the layered radiographs. The surgical extraction of an impacted mandibular third molar is one of the most complicated procedures in the field of oral surgery and is associated with the risk of postoperative complications [3]
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