Presentations 2020: OMFS

386 - Impact of Cone Beam CT Scans on Surgical and Patient Management in Wisdom Teeth Extraction

HL Ooi A Cronin N Drage
Presented by: Hui Ooi
Cardiff Dental Hospital

Introduction The use of Cone Beam CT scans (CBCT) on patients prior to wisdom tooth extraction has become increasingly popular among clinicians. A statement paper released by the European Academy of DentoMaxilloFacial Radiology (EADMFR) recommends it only be used when a surgeon has a specific clinical question that can only be answered by a CBCT and does not routinely recommend its use. In University Hospital Wales in Cardiff, a higher number of CBCT scans are taken each year following a standard dental panoramic tomograph (DPT). Aim The assess whether CBCT scans performed on patients prior to wisdom tooth extraction changed the surgical decision making for that patient’s treatment. Method Data was collected retrospectively of patients requiring CBCT scans prior to wisdom tooth extraction from 2015-2019. A previous set of results are available from 2012-2015. Records were reviewed for these patients to see if the results of the CBCT scan had brought a change in patient management i.e.; i) Did it change the patients decision to extract the tooth? ii) Was there a change in surgical technique? Results CBCT scans altered the decision making in <10% of patients who decided against the extraction. However, surgical management was not changed as there was no change in the surgical plan. Conclusion A review of practices regarding the use of CBCT is needed to ensure CBCTs are used only when the outcome might change the initial treatment plan for the patient. Other surgical techniques such as coronectomy may need to be considered as a standard treatment option.
Consent Statement: There are no details on individual patients reported within the abstract.

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