Resident Texas A&M University Baylor College of Dentistry Dallas, Texas, United States
Artifacts are a well-known issue in cone beam computed tomography. The underlying physics of the machine causes particular effects in images when highly attenuating dental materials, particularly metal objects, are present in the field of view. These effects alter the appearance and subsequent interpretation of root canal anatomy, resorptive defects, bone loss or tooth fractures in scans. The presence of a high-attenuation object (exomass) outside the field of view and its effect on artifacts has been described. However, the appearance of artifact may change when the high-attenuation object is inside the field of view. For example, if titanium implants are located within or outside the field of view next to a tooth of interest, what types of artifacts would be expected and where would we see them? The purpose of this table clinic is, by using cadaveric specimens, to present examples of artifacts produced by metal objects (e.g., implants, crowns) within and outside the study field of view, review mechanisms for these effects and highlight relevant literature.
