Dental medicine has come a long way in recent years, thanks in large part to advances in imaging technology. Today, dentists have a wide range of imaging modalities at their disposal, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common imaging modality used in dental medicine is x-ray radiography.
X-rays are able to penetrate the teeth and gums to provide detailed images of the underlying structures. However, x-rays do have some limitations. For example, they cannot show soft tissues such as the gums or tongue. In the section below, we will discuss the combination of imaging techniques for dental medicine.
Let’s get started.
An Overview of Dental Imaging Technique
Digital radiography is the most common type of dental imaging. It uses an electronic sensor to capture images of the teeth and jaws. The images can be viewed on a computer screen and are often stored in a digital format.
Computed tomography (CT) scans provide detailed 3-D images of the teeth, jaws, and facial bones. CT scans are usually used to diagnose problems with the teeth or jaws, such as infections or tumors. They can also be used to plan dental implants or other surgical procedures.
A Combination from X-Rays Radiography and 3D CBCT to OCT
The medical field is ever-changing and evolving, with new technology and techniques being developed all the time. This is especially true in the field of dental medicine, where there are constantly new ways to improve diagnoses and treatments. One such recent development is the combination of different imaging techniques to get a more complete picture of a patient’s mouth.
There are many different imaging techniques that can be used in dental medicine. X-rays have long been the standard for diagnosing problems with teeth, but they have some limitations. They only show us a two-dimensional image, so we can’t see how deep a cavity goes or how extensive damage to the root of a tooth might be.
Dental problems are now evaluated clinically as well as radiologically. The latter comprises radiographs that use X-ray radiation, such as intraoral radiography, three-dimensional (3D) cone beam computed tomography, and panoramic radiography (CBCT). Radiographs have limits in a number of situations because they cannot detect dental problems including minor cavities, enamel fractures, or tooth erosion.
Optical Coherence Tomography, a different medical imaging method, makes these features evident (OCT). The purpose of this study is to give a few findings on a number of dental disorders that can’t be seen on radiographs using an internally built swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) device.
These findings demonstrate the use of OCT in dentistry, with benefits including radiation-free procedure and improved resolution. This research provides radiography and OCT pictures for a variety of dental conditions, such as minor cavities, crowns made of other materials (i.e., ceramics, zirconia or composite) and cracks in metal crowns. Initially, radiological analysis of the samples revealed certain anomalies that could be found and accurately quantified.
Second, the SS-OCT method has been used to examine these anomalies, and third, all of the pictures and information from the two medical imaging methods have been analyzed. One of the implications is that, for a number of dental problems like those discussed in this study, OCT is preferable to radiographs. Therefore, in oral care, these two medical imaging modalities may be complimentary.
The Bottom Line
A combination of imaging techniques is essential for accurate diagnosis and treatment planning in dental medicine. X-Rays Radiography and 3D CBCT to OCT imaging provide complementary information that helps to ensure the best possible outcome for your dental treatment.
It is also important to keep in mind that no single imaging modality is perfect, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Ultimately, your dental team will decide which imaging modalities are best suited for your individual needs.
