Variations in the Indications for Cone-Beam Computed Tomography among Dental Departments

Introduction: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) has developed into the acknowledged standard for three-dimensional imaging of hard tissues in dentomaxillofacial radiology. CBCT should be utilized only in line with proper clinical indications due to the use of ionizing radiation in imaging. This study aims to analyze the purposes for CBCT requests in patients presented to the faculty of dentistry and to assess the compliance of these requests.
Methods: This retrospective study included the CBCT requests with documented clinical indications, obtained between January and December 2024 from eight clinical departments. Demographic data (age and sex), the requesting department, and the indication for imaging were analyzed. Statistical evaluation was performed using Chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests to assess differences among departments and age groups, with a significance level set at p<0.05.
Results: A total of 1299 CBCT indications belonging to 1352 patients were evaluated in the study. It was determined that CBCT was most frequently requested for implant planning (54.3%), followed by lesion evaluation (16.4%) and impacted teeth (16.1%). The departments submitting the highest number of requests were oral and maxillofacial surgery (43.3%), periodontology (30.5%), and oral and maxillofacial radiology (12.2%), respectively. A statistically significant difference was observed in the distribution of CBCT request indications across clinical departments.
Discussion and Conclusion: CBCT requests are mostly oriented toward the indications specified by SedentexCT at the present time. However, more systematic approach to this issue and training of the personnel is recommended to avoid unnecessary radiation exposure.

Keywords: Cone-beam computed tomography; Dental implants; Radiation protection