Detection of jaw and root fractures using cone beam computed tomography: a case report

The aim of this case report is to demonstrate jaw and root fractures using a combination of cone beam CT (CBCT), CT and conventional radiographs. In this presentation a 23-year-old female patient who was referred to our dental clinic with a severe facial trauma is reported. The patient was initially examined by a general dentist and a fracture in the mandibular right canine region was diagnosed on the CT images. Once referred to our clinic, the raw CT images were re-evaluated by three maxillofacial radiologists in the Oral Diagnosis and Radiology Department. Two new fracture lines that were not reported on the original CT analysis were diagnosed among the raw CT images. More detailed information was obtained about dentoalveolar fractures with CBCT compared with CT and conventional radiography. Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2009) 38, 169-173. doi: 10.1259/dmfr/54020205