[Clinical application of spiral 3-D CT reconstruction for maxillary impacted teeth].
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the clinical usefulness of spiral 3-D CT reconstruction for maxillary impacted teeth.


METHODS
Spiral CT was performed in 47 patients whose maxillary impacted teeth couldn't be judged clearly through the panoramic radiograph and occlusal film. 3-D reconstruction, including MIP (maximum intensity projection) and MPR (multiplanar reconstructions) was made to display the impacted teeth's shape, location and its relationship with adjacent teeth.


RESULTS
There were 67 maxillary impacted teeth in 47 patients. Spiral 3-D CT could clearly demonstrate the dental image including crown, root, neck and root bifurcation, and 3-D imaging could clearly display the maxilla anatomy and the dental structure.


CONCLUSIONS
Spiral CT 3-D reconstruction is a useful technique to display three-dimensional configuration of teeth.Three dimensional reconstruction is an accurate and effective method to localize impacted teeth before orthodontic treatment.
Lin
Cong
C
Department of Orthodontics, Shengli Oil-Field Central Hospital, Dongying, Shandong Province, China.
Wang
Xu-Xia
XX
Zou
Ya-Nan
YN
Xu
Jian-Guang
JG
Zhang
Jun
J
D006801:Humans; D007091:Image Processing, Computer-Assisted; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D008437:Maxilla; D011862:Radiography, Panoramic; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D036542:Tomography, Spiral Computed; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D019228:Tooth Crown; D014095:Tooth, Impacted