Accuracy of cone beam computed tomography in diagnosis and treatment planning of periodontal bone defects: a case report.

Diagnosis of periodontitis depend mostly on traditional two-dimensional (2-D) radiographic assessment. Regardless of efforts in improving reliability, present methods of detecting bone level changes over time or determining three-dimensional (3-D) architecture of osseous defects are lacking. To improve the diagnostic potential, an imaging modality which would give an undistorted 3-D vision of a tooth and surrounding structures is imperative. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) generates 3D volumetric images which provide axial, coronal and sagittal multi-planar reconstructed images without magnification and renders image guidance throughout the treatment phase. The purpose of this case report was to introduce the clinical application of a newly developed, CBCT system for detecting alveolar bone loss in 21-year-old male patient with periodontitis. To evaluate the bone defect we took an intraoral radiograph and performed CBCT scanning on mandibular left first molar tooth and compared their images. CBCT images of mandibular left first molar showed the extension of furcation involvement, its distal root is devoid of supporting bone and it has only lingual cortical plate which were not shown precisely by the conventional intraoral radiograph. So we consider that the use of latest adjuncts like CBCT is successful in diagnosing periodontal defects.