Advances in CBCT for Dental Implantology: Trends in Assessment, Planning, and Monitoring
摘要
Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has transformed dental implantology by providing high-resolution, three-dimensional visualization of maxillofacial structures essential for accurate diagnosis, implant planning, and long-term monitoring. Traditional two-dimensional imaging suffers from anatomical overlap, geometric distortion, and limited assessment of buccolingual dimensions, whereas CBCT offers isotropic voxels, precise spatial measurement, and comprehensive evaluation of bone morphology, anatomical risk zones, and prosthetic requirements. This chapter presents an in-depth exploration of CBCT-driven implant assessment, beginning with acquisition protocols, voxel and field-of-view optimization, radiation considerations, and systematic multiplanar interpretation. It details the role of CBCT in evaluating bone quantity, qualitative bone architecture, ridge angulation, aesthetic zone anatomy, and pre-implant pathology, emphasizing its pivotal function in risk stratification and surgical decision-making. This chapter further examines CBCT-integrated digital workflows, highlighting how technologies enhance precision, reproducibility, and interdisciplinary coordination. Postoperative applications are discussed through a comprehensive framework for monitoring osseointegration, crestal bone behavior, peri-implant disease, mechanical complications, and longitudinal bone changes. Emerging advancements, including artificial intelligence-assisted segmentation, radiomics-driven risk prediction, intraoperative CBCT, augmented surgical visualization, low- and ultra-low-dose protocols, and advanced reconstruction algorithms, are discussed as future directions shaping precision-guided implantology.