Aside from being the right thing to do for the patient, it is widely considered now that the interpretation of CBCT scans is a legal requirement. It is the responsibility of the practitioner ordering the CBCT images to ensure that the scans are adequately interpreted. Yet as with any other dental procedure, the orthodontist is not required to perform the radiographic interpretation personally; a referral to a colleague (oral radiologist) who is qualified to complete this task is a viable option.
In CBCT scans, supplementary findings have been reported to be as high as 25%. Airway, nasal polyps, TMJ aberrations, sinus pathologies, cervical vertebrae clefts and endodontic lesions have all been confirmed. “The relatively high frequency of incidental findings on CBCT scans (25%) suggests that CBCT scans obtained for orthodontic purposes should be further reviewed by an oral maxillofacial radiologist.”
