The role of diagnostic imaging in dental implantology.

Abstract

Dental implants are titanium cylinders that are surgically implanted into the jaw to allow fixation of a permanent dental prosthesis. Dental computed tomographic (CT) software programs that display multiple axial, cross-sectional and panoramic images of the jaw have been developed to assess these patients preoperatively. The development and use of these programs, the implant surgical procedure, and related dental anatomy and oral pathology are discussed.