Evaluation of the reliability of a new low dose CBCT acquisition protocol in diagnosing impacted canines: an ex-vivo imaging study

Permanent canines are the second most commonly impacted teeth after third molars with females being affected twice as much as males. Impacted canines can be located buccal, palatal or mid-alveolar and further be placed mesially, distally, horizontal, or inverted. Traditionally, permanent canines are radiographically localized using Clark’s method where a straight periapical radiograph of the area of interest/canine is taken, then the tube is shifted either mesial or distal to take a second radiograph. Another approach to localize an impacted canine could use a panoramic radiograph. Both of these 2D methods do not adequately depict the location of the tooth. To be able to localize the canine correctly is important for surgical exposure for further orthodontic treatment. More adequate imaging is 3D imaging in which a 360 degree Cone Beam CT (CBCT) is generally used, however, a different protocol using a 180 degree technique can reduce the radiation dose by 40%. This is important as it would limit the exposure of radiologically sensitive organs in the head and neck region.