Evaluation the reasons of CBCT requests by dentists for child and adolescent patients in Tabriz, Iran

Abstract

Background: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is three-dimensional high-quality imaging of maxillofacial area. A variety of indications has been proposed for CBCT usage in pediatric dentistry; however, due to the lack of a comprehensive study on this issue in Iran, this study was performed in this regard, evaluating the patients’ radiology files whom presented to faculty of dentistry of Tabriz or radiology clinics.

Methods & Materials: The current study was performed as a cross-sectional study evaluating all CBCT files of patients under the age of 18 presenting to the dentistry faculty of Tabriz or radiology clinics in 2018-2019. Required data were extracted by evaluation of the patients' files including dentition age and the indication of CBCT that was referred for from her/his dentist. The indications were classified into two categories including surgical and orthodontic. Then, analysis of the data was done by SPSS version 24 using descriptive and inferential analysis.

Results: Throughout this study, 228 files of CBCT were evaluate. Ninety-two cases (40.4%) of CBCT indications were relating to surgery and 136 (59.6%) were relating to orthodontics. Overall, the most prevalent indication for CBCT was impacted teeth (As orthodontic reasons of CBCT requests) (32.5%) There was a significant relationship between indications of CBCT and dentition age (p value=0.001). As the most frequent indication in mixed dentition age was evaluation of impacted teeth. In early dentition age the most frequent reason for CBCT requests was cleft lip and palate and in permanent dentition age it was for evaluation of impacted teeth.

Conclusion: The result of our study demonstrated that the most frequent overall reason for requesting CBCT in children in this area was for evaluation of impacted teeth. Moreover, in each dentition age, there were different most frequent indications including impacted teeth or cleft palate and lip.