cone beam international magazine of cone beam dentistry

I 03 editorial _ cone beam I cone beam1_2014 _I was first exposed to the world of 3-D imaging for dental applications in 1985. At that time,whenpatientshadseverelyresorbedridges,androotformimplantswerejustbecoming accepted in the US market, subperiosteal implants were a recommended treatment alter- native. Conventional subperiosteal implants required two separate surgical procedures, the first for an impression of the alveolar/basal bone for the fabrication of the implant, and the second for the placement of the implant. Each surgical intervention required an invasive andextensiveflaptoexposetheunderlyingbone.WiththeinceptionofCT,ascanofapatient’s jawbone created a 3-D dataset that would allow for the fabrication of a physical resin-based medicalmodel.Fromthismodel,thesubperiostealimplantcouldbedesignedandfabricated, circumventing the need for the first surgical procedure reducing patient morbidity by 50 per cent. Of course, the slice thickness and resolution did not result in a high degree of accuracy, andoftentheimplantsdidnotfitwell.However,thisoriginalapplicationmotivatedmetofind improved solutions with the evolving applications of 3-D imaging modalities and related technology for dentistry. As personal computing power improved, the subsequent development of interactive treatmentplanningsoftwarewasabletoconverttheCTdatasetandprovideclinicianswithnew tools to enhance the diagnostic process, a vast improvement over conventional 2-D imaging modalities. The advent of lower-dose CBCT in-office devices provided a significant catalyst for the dental industry to allow for instant access to the technology. Three-dimensional imaging modalities have truly empowered clinicians with an increased visual acuity of individualaspectsofpatientanatomyforawidevarietyofclinicalapplications.Theseinclude butmaynotbelimitedtooralsurgeryprocedures,orthodontics,periodontology,endodontics, temporomandibular joint disorders, bone grafting, sleep apnoea, dental implant placement, and reconstruction. The utilisation of CBCT data has been further expanded and augmented with the ability to merge/superimpose cross-platform data from intra-oral and optical scanners for increased diagnostics and to create a direct link to CAD/CAM. We have come a long way since 1985, but not far enough in my humble opinion. I truly believe that every dental school should not only have a CBCT imaging device, but also be actively integrating the technology into the undergraduate and graduate curriculum, teaching clinicians how to utilise these most powerful tools to provide our patients with the best possible care but without the guess-work. Theevolutioncontinueswithinthepagesofournewconebeaminternationalmagazine. We will do our best to provide our readers with useful information by presenting a variety of clinical applications and state-of-the-art concepts that showcase CBCT technology and related applications. It is time to realize that there is a real danger when we are bound by 2-D concepts, when clearly today we live in a 3-D world. And, as Sir William Osler stated, "What the brain does not know, the eye cannot see." Dr Scott D. Ganz Editor-in-Chief Dear Reader, Dr Scott D. Ganz CBE0114_03_Editorial 31.01.14 15:48 Seite 1