A recent article in Dental Traumatology noted that 3D is a beneficial tool for diagnosing vertical root fractures (VRFs). Since the diagnosis is based on clinical and radiographic presentations, the study notes, “It might be difficult to detect VRFs in non-endodontically treated molars by conventional radiographs in certain situations because of the limitations of 2D images and many others factors such as the VRFs being in their early stages.” Variations in root shapes and the position of the VRF can affect detection on conventional radiographic methods, and in turn, may lead to a misinterpretation of a radiolucent fracture line. The study presents four case reports to illustrate how CBCT was utilized to gather more information of the presence of VRFs, and “successfully diagnose VRFs based on direct visualization of radiolucent lines, especially those suspected from routine conventional radiographs, as well as their symptoms and clinical findings.”
To get to the root of the matter, or at least the fracture on the root, CBCT scans provide high definition diagnostic images for efficient treatment planning.
