3D cephalometrics: the new norm

With the advent of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT), the diagnostic foundations of dentistry have been forever changed and advanced into a new era of 3-dimensional (3D) possibilities. In the case of implant planning, which was among the first applications of this technology, the exact 3D location of the implant could be preplanned and even guided during surgery. This was a major advancement in implant planning above and beyond traditional radiographic images, such as panoramic, bitewing, and periapical films, all of which are subject to magnification errors and dimensional distortion. However, with CBCT imaging, the images are captured in their true anatomic size and shape, and therefore offer the most accurate treatment planning potential. For these reasons, CBCT imaging was quickly harnessed for multiple imaging applications in various fields of dentistry, from diagnostics to surgical planning, and from orthodontics to endodontics; it has permeated all fields of our profession. The scope of this article will highlight the salient features of how CBCT imaging is being used for orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic applications.