ROLE OF CBCT IN IMPLANT PLACEMENT IN MANDIBULAR PREMOLAR REGION

Implant placement has now become the lifeline of dentistry, but the most of the aspect of its treatment begins with the diagnosis of patients condition.Rehabilitating patients with dental implants require thorough evaluation of the implant site.All the vital structures need to be evaluated and a safe distance should be maintained while planning for implant like the nasal floor, maxillary sinus in maxillary region and mental foramen, inferior alveolar nerve and sublingual concavities in the mandible. The mandibular anterior inter-foraminal region was previously considered to be a safe region for surgical procedures of the mandible but now it has been realized that presence of anterior loop of inferior alveolar nerve make it an area that should be thoroughly evaluated. The selection of a suitable imaging modality along with the judgment of the expert clinician about the clinical situation aids in the treatment planning. Previously clinicians were relying on 2-dimensional imaging techniques, which have now been replaced by CBCT, the most widely used tool for treatment planning of implant placement.