Teeth Impaction and Structural Teeth Anomalies.

Dentists and oral and maxillofacial radiologists have used periapical, occlusal, panoramic, and cephalometric radiographs for many years for diagnosing dental anomalies, especially before orthodontic or surgical treatment. Cone beam computed tomography was developed in recent years especially for the dental and maxillofacial region. Thus it has become the imaging modality of choice for many clinical situations, such as the assessment of dental impaction and structural teeth anomalies or other associated diseases and disorders (e.g., Gardner's syndrome, cleidocranial dysplasia). This article reviews different aspects of dental impaction and its possible effects on adjacent structures such as external root resorption, marginal bone loss, as well as describing structural dental anomalies. It provides a systematic analysis of their characteristic features and imaging findings for general radiologists to achieve a precise diagnosis and an optimal interpretation.

A PRELIMINARY EVALUATION OF RESIDENTS' PERCEPTION OF THEIR TRAINING AND KNOWLEDGE ON THREE-DIMENSIONAL IMAGING.

UNLABELLED: The aim of this preliminary study was to assess the residents' perception on their training program and on their knowledge regarding the use and interpretation of three-dimensional imaging techniques in their clinical practice. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A multi-item questionnaire was distributed among 104 residents training in four medical specialties at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Grigore T. Popa" in Iasi. RESULTS: Fifty-five residents agreed to fill in the questionnaire, achieving a participating rate of 52.88%. The majority of the respondents (74.5%) declared to indicate classic CT scans to their patients. A significantly lower fraction of the participating residents (32.7%) affirmed to indicate CBCT scans. Electronic literature was the most common information source on the use of three-dimensional imaging (52.7%). Most of the residents declared that they cannot interpret correctly CT and CBCT scans (78.2%, respectively 83.6%). A significant percentage of the respondents considered that the level of training provided on the interpretation of CT and CBCT results is very low (49.1%, respectively 60.0%). CONCLUSIONS: The residents' perception of the quality of their education regarding 3D imaging modalities, along with their perception of their knowledge in this area, indicates the necessity to improve their didactic and practical training. A further extended survey will be conducted to evaluate the educational experience of residents from all medical specialties that use 3D imaging techniques in neck and head imaging.

A software tool used in 3D evaluation of the alveolar bone defect in bilateral cleft lip and palate patients.

UNLABELLED: Evaluation of the cleft size and the assessment of an estimative volume required for bone grafting provide useful information to the surgeon performing secondary alveolar bone grafting. AIM: To use a software tool to evaluate the estimative volume of the bone defect in the alveolar cleft area, based on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) data. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Three patients with bilateral cleft lip and palate (BCLP) were randomly selected in the order of referral to treatment at "Saint Mary" Emergency Hospital for Children. CBCT examinations were performed prior to secondary alveolar bone grafting procedure. The preoperative estimative volume (PEV) of the alveolar bone defect was evaluated by three observers with different areas of expertise (a dentomaxillofacial radiologist, a maxillofacial surgeon, and a Ph.D. radiology student), using Romexis 3.0.1 software program. The inter-observer fidelity was assessed using the Interclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC), with an optimal value of 0.837 for all observers. RESULTS: The mean PEV for all BCLP patients was 1.84 +/- 0.16 cm3. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that measuring the preoperative estimative volume of the alveolar bone defect in CLP patients using Romexis 3.0.1 software program, with CBCT scan data is beneficial. A proper protocol should be established, in order to provide useful information for the surgeon performing the secondary alveolar bone grafting.