CAD/CAM - international magazine of digital dentistry

I feature _ EAO X-ray guidelines _The European Association for Osseointegration (EAO)hasdrawnupnewguidelinesontheuseofdiag- nostic imaging in implant dentistry. The guidelines have been published online ahead of print and can be accessed as an early view article at www.online library.wiley.com. They will be published in print in an upcoming issue of Clinical Oral Implants Research. They were developed during an international work- shopheldattheMedicalUniversityofWarsawin2011. TheEAOpublisheditsfirstsetofguidelinesondiag- nostic imaging in 2002. Since then, new radiographic technologies and techniques have become available, including cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). The new guidelines were drawn up in response to the 2008–2011 SEDENTEXCT project (www.sedentexct.eu), which recommended that the EAO review its 2002 guidelinesinlightoftheavailabilityofCBCT. Owingtoitsrelativelylowcost,aswellasthegrow- ing number of potential clinical applications, there is an increasing demand for CBCT imaging in clinical dentalpractice.Althoughitcanprovidevaluableclin- ical information, practitioners are required to min- imise and balance any patient exposure to ionising (X-ray) radiation with any net benefits to the patient intreatmentoutcome. An international panel of expert clinicians and ra- diologistswereinvitedtoparticipateintheworkshop. They were tasked with reviewing and updating the originalEAOguidelinesandwithreachingaconsensus onarangeofrelevantissues. The new guidelines provide a comprehensive, authoritative and practical framework for clinicians. They will help clinicians fulfil their obligations in ensuring that the use of diagnostic imaging exami- nations in implant dentistry is justified and obtained at the lowest radiation dose to the patient. They also highlight the special responsibilities, training and knowledge that are considered prereq- uisite for both CBCT and conventional radiographic techniques._ 22 I CAD/CAM 2_2012 Gloria Guevara Congrex Belgium Gloria.Guevara@congrex.com Tel.:+32 2 6432049 CAD/CAM_contact EAO publishes new guidelines on safe exposure to X-rays for dental implant patients