JOURNEY TOWARDS THE 3D DENTAL IMAGING- THE MILESTONES IN THE ADVANCEMENT OF DENTAL IMAGING.

Over the past decades, evolution has been seen in all specialties of dentistry, in terms of unfolding newer facts, treatment approaches and redefining existing concepts. At the back of all these developments, there has been an important role of advancing diagnostic tools, specially imaging methods. Dental imaging has covered a long journey from the simple intra-oral Periapical X-rays to advanced imaging techniques like computed tomography, cone beam computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography. Most of these developments started in the medicine, but in no time they had gained a crucial role in diagnosis & treatment planning for maxillofacial pathologies. Major paradigm shift in imaging was arrived with the conversion of analogue to digital radiography. This has not only made the process simpler and faster but also made image storage, manipulation, retrieval and transmission easier. The three-dimensional imaging of complex craniofacial structures is made even more accessible with the advent of cone beam computed tomography. Reduced scan time, radiation dose and enhanced image characteristics are the most promising features of this technology. This paper is to review current advances in imaging technology and their uses in different specialties of dentistry.