Research Information System
Akdeniz Tıp Dergisi, vol.9, no.3, pp.247-252, 2023 (Peer-Reviewed Journal)
Objectives: The purpose of the present study was to provide information that might help in planning cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging in pediatric patients. This study focused on the evaluation of indications for CBCT in pediatric patients in a Turkish dental school. Method: Six-hundred-seven CBCT scans belonged to patients under the age of 16 were included in this study. The following data were recorded from an electronic patient database: age, gender, indication for referral (impacted teeth, supernumerary teeth, trauma, cysts/tumors, clefts, temporomandibular joint, and other reasons), dispersion of referrals by departments, external or internal referral. Results: Mean age was 12.39 years [range: 4-16; 260 females (42.8%) and 347 males (57.2%)]. The most frequent and largest age group (54.2%) was 13- to 16-years old. The most frequent request was to assess an impacted tooth and its localization (38.2%). Examining the FOVs, the maxilla was the most frequently imaged area (27.2%). Four-hundred sixty-six patients (76.8%) had been referred from departments of the dental school while 141 (23.2%) patients were referred from external clinics. Re-exposure was required in 52 cases (8.6%) due to patient-motion artefacts. Conclusion: The results of the present study can help dental professionals make the decision to refer for CBCT when extra three dimensional imaging is necessary for a pediatric patient. It might be proper that an oral and maxillofacial radiologist decides when CBCT is necessary and then supervises the CBCT-scanning protocol to minimize the radiation dose to pediatric patients.