Incidental findings in patients who underwent cone beam computed tomography for implant treatment planning.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to determine the type, frequency, and location of incidental findings in the maxillofacial region in patients undergoing cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scan for implant treatment.[5]. METHODS: In this study, 300 patients who underwent CBCT imaging for implant treatment planning were evaluated retrospectively. Patients were evaluated in four different categories, namely, maxillary sinus pathologies, temporomandibular joint (TMJ) findings, dentoalveolar findings, and soft-tissue calcifications. In maxillary sinus pathologies, we categorized patients by mucosal thickening, polypoidal lesion, air-liquid level, total opacification, oroantral fistula, periapical lesion related with maxillary sinus, antrolith, hypoplasia, and foreign body presence. In the TMJ findings category, we evaluated patients for erosion, osteophyte, sclerosis, flattening, and bifid condyle. For dentoalveolar findings, we looked for the residual root and impacted tooth. In soft-tissue calcifications, we examined patients for tonsillolith, sialolith, lymph node calcification, styloid ligament calcification, carotid artery calcifications, and osteoma cutis. RESULTS: Mucosal thickening was mostly seen in maxillary sinus pathology. One hundred and forty-eight (49.3%) of the patients had at least one TMJ incidental finding. We detected at least one impacted tooth in 17 (5.7%) patients' maxilla and 14 (4.7%) patients' mandibles. The most frequently seen calcification was styloid ligament calcification. There was no statistically significant relationship between the age groups and incidental findings (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Oral radiologists should be aware of incidental findings and evaluate the possibilities of underlying diseases in a comprehensive way, and if there is a concern about the finding, they should refer the patient to the relevant specialist.

A retrospective study: Do all impacted teeth cause pathology?

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to determine the incidence of impacted teeth and the frequency of pathologies they caused by cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) retrospectively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, 608 patients' CBCT images were analyzed retrospectively. Detected impacted teeth were classified as incisor, canine, premolar, molar, third molar, and supernumerary teeth. The pathologies caused by impacted teeth are classified as cysts or tumors, tooth decay, root resorptions, and periodontal bone loss. RESULTS: Impacted teeth were detected in 34.37% of the 608 CBCT images included in the study. The distribution of impacted teeth was 9.4% incisor, 29.4% canine, 9.9% premolar, 2.9% molar, 9.3% supernumerary, and 39.9% third molar teeth. Approximately 63.7% of the impacted teeth caused a pathology. The pathology that was most commonly caused by impacted teeth was periodontal bone loss (44.4%), and respectively others were root resorptions (33.3%), cysts or tumors (8.6%), and tooth decay (2.3%). The most common cause of this pathology was right mandibular third molar teeth. CONCLUSION: Impacted teeth were common and they often caused a pathology. CBCT is a useful device to assess the impacted teeth. When the impacted teeth are evaluated, each tooth should be assessed within itself. If the impacted teeth are not caused by pathology, they can be kept under control.