The Efficacy of CBCT for Diagnosis and Treatment of Oral and Maxillofacial Disorders: A Systematic Review

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has the ability to accomplish rapid volumetric image acquisition by its cone-shaped beam. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of this imaging modality. A standard systematic review was performed. Medline (December 2012) and The Cochrane Library (Issue 3 2012) were searched to identify evidence about the performance (sensitivity، specificity and safety) of CBCT compared with other standard diagnostic methods. The results of the included studies were analyzed using a qualitative method. Thirty-one articles were included in the study; the majority of them were diagnostic studies with a small sample size (n<10). There was limited evidence about the effectiveness of this technology and the available evidence was scattered and sometimes controversial. At present، CBCT technology has greatly advanced and its image quality in terms of resolution is higher than that of MOCT. However، its contrast resolution is still lower than that of MOCT. Therefore، MOCT is preferred for soft tissue imaging. For evaluation of hard tissue in the maxillofacial region، a more clear image with higher resolution can be obtained by CBCT. CBCT technology is now commonly used in developed countries for obtaining detailed information regarding the oral and maxillofacial region and can greatly help clinicians in diagnosis and treatment of maxillofacial disorders.