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cone beam international magazine of cone beam dentistry

tion products will outstrip all other areas of dentistry, according to Kalorama Information.1 The traditional method of replacing a tooth with a dental bridge has been shown to be problem- atic, and more permanent solutions are urgently needed. With a rapidly ageing population in the devel- oped world and the resulting enormous need for dental restoration, a large number of companies have seen the opportunity to adopt these sophis- ticated dental techniques. And indeed, as some have predicted, the growth in dental implant- based procedures has increased considerably in recent years. As a result, there has been a rapid increase in the number of practitioners involved in implant placement, including specialists and generalists, with different levels of expertise. At the same time, a number of unusual complications asso- ciated with these procedures have arisen. A literature and web search revealed several published reports of such complications, which include implant fractures (Fig. 1), impingement on adjacent teeth (Fig. 2), perforation of the lin- gual undercut (Fig. 3), sinus perforations (Fig. 4) and implants displaced into the maxillary sinus (Fig. 5). The clinical management associated with some of these complications is difficult at times and considered very invasive. Therefore, while the quantitative relationship between successful outcomes in dental implant treatment and CBCT- based dental imaging is unknown and awaits discoverythroughlargeprospectiveclinicaltrials, IstronglybelievethatusingCBCT-and3-D-based dental imaging is becoming a reliable procedure fromaprecautionarystandpointbasedonaseries of recent preliminary clinical studies and case reports. I also strongly believe that by taking 3-D CBCT images prior to placing dental implants, many of the above-mentioned complications can be circumvented._ Editorial note: Dr Almog’s presentation, Introduction to CBCT, especially as it pertains to prevention of failures in oral implantology, at the Dental Tribune Study Club Symposia at Greater New York Dental Meeting 2010 is availableonlineatwww.DTStudyClub.com. _Reference 1. Kalorama Information, “Implant-based dental recon- struction: The worldwide implant and bone graft market”, 2007 www.kaloramainformation.com/pub/1099235.html, accessed6June2011. Fig. 4_Left sinus perforation. Fig. 5_Implants displaced into the maxillary sinus. I 17 opinion_ use of CBCT I cone beam1_2014 Fig. 5Fig. 4 Dr Dov Almog is a Prosthodontist with more than 30 years of diversified professional experience in clinical,academic and research environments.His publications include articles on CBCT,dental implants,carotid artery calcifications and practice management. In 2003,in acknowledgment of his research on incidental findings of carotid artery calcifications on panoramic radiographs,he received theArthur H.WuehrmannAward from theAmericanAcademy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology.DrAlmog currently serves as chief of the dental service for theVA New Jersey Health Care System of the US Department ofVeteransAffairs. cone beam_about the author CBE0114_16-17_Almog 31.01.14 15:50 Seite 2