title: Dental anatomy and pathology encountered on routine CT of the head and neck.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Although dental CT is not routinely performed at hospital imaging centers, dental and periodontal disease can be recognized on standard high-resolution CT of the neck and face. These findings can have significant implications with regard to not only dental disease, but also diseases of the sinuses, jaw, and surrounding soft tissues. This article serves to review dental and periodontal anatomy and pathology as well as other regional entities with dental involvement and to discuss the imaging findings.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Recognition of dental and periodontal disease has the potential to affect management and preclude further complications, thereby preserving the smile, one of the most recognizable and attractive features of the human face and, unfortunately, often disease ridden. Although practicing good oral hygiene and visiting the dentist for regular examinations and cleanings are the most effective ways to prevent disease, some patients do not take these preventative measures. Thus, radiologists play a role in diagnosing dental disease and complications such as chronic periodontitis and abscesses, nonhealing fractures and osteomyelitis, oroantral fistulas, tumoral diseases, osteonecrosis of the jaw, and other conditions.
authors.affiliation: 1 Both authors: Department of Radiology, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, 270-05 76th Ave, Ste C204, New Hyde Park, NY 11040.
authors.forename: Jared
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Steinklein
authors.forename: Vinh
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Nguyen
mesh_terms: D000465:Algorithms; D006801:Humans; D009057:Stomatognathic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D013284:Stomatognathic System / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*