Imaging technique selection for the preoperative planning of oral implants: a review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: As the use of oral implants for the treatment of partially as well as fully edentulous patients has increased the past two decades, more specialized radiographic techniques have become available for the preoperative planning of oral implant placement.
PURPOSE: The goal of this article was to enable clinicians to select the appropriate imaging techniques when planning for oral implants.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: This artide reviews the available literature about various imaging techniques and their indication for the preoperative planning of oral implants. The advantages and drawbacks of each technique are described. A dosimetric overview is given relative to different radiologic techniques used in various clinical situations.
RESULTS: For preoperative planning of implant placement, advantages and drawbacks of the available imaging techniques have been considered, which allows guidelines for image technique selection to be formulated based on the clinical situation provided, considering the diagnostic yield of each technique and the radiation doses involved.
CONCLUSIONS: From the available literature, it can be stated that many clinical situations demand the use of cross-sectional imaging techniques for optimal preoperative planning of implant placement. Nevertheless, such techniques are not required in cases in which the clinical examination reveals sufficient bone width and where standard radiographic examinations, such as intraoral and panoramic radiography, reveal adequate bone height and space for implant placement.