Use of fan beam computerized tomography and cone beam computerized tomography in oral and maxillofacial surgery and its indications: A literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Contemporary dentistry increasingly relies on advanced technology techniques, among these are high-standard imaging exams such as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) or "Cone Beam" and Spiral Computed Tomography or "Fan Beam", which are have become an important diagnostic tool for the performance of the Dental Surgeon. In Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology, the detailed visualization of craniofacial anatomical structures is of paramount importance, making it possible to dimension, locate and observe morphological characteristics of bone structures and alterations, in a detailed way, which adds precision to diagnosis and treatment. Aim: The present study aims to present and evaluate the indications, advantages and disadvantages of CBCT and Fan Beam diagnostic tests and their applicability in the scope of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and Traumatology. Methods: A careful review of the literature available on the PubMed indexing platform was performed, selecting studies from the last 5 years, in addition to a manual search for relevant publications in the reference lists of the selected articles. To this end, the following combination of keywords was used: "Spiral Computed Tomography", "Cone Beam Computed Tomography" and "Oral surgery", obtaining, in the end, 18 studies to compose the scope of this work. Results: CBCT is the gold standard for hard tissue evaluation, with indications for examinations in smaller sites, such as minor oral surgery, implant dentistry, fractures, temporomandibular joint and endodontics. It has a lower cost, shorter exposure time to X-rays, however, it does not have an assessment for the evaluation of adjacent soft tissues. On the other hand, the Fan Beam (FBT), used for diagnosis of the whole body, has excellent sharpness for structures that overlap, whether soft or hard. It has a higher cost and longer exposure time to X-rays. Conclusion: The different techniques presented proved to be quite efficient in the use of Dentistry and Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, with their respective indications.