Speakers - 2026

Accurate radiological assessment is essential for safe dental implant placement and for the prevention of surgical complications. Reliable evaluation of the available bone volume and precise identification of anatomical structures are important prerequisites for predictable implant planning, particularly in the posterior regions of the jaws where anatomical conditions may be complex. Panoramic radiography (orthopantomogram, OPG) is widely used as a standard imaging modality in implant dentistry. However, cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) allows three-dimensional visualization of anatomical structures and may therefore improve diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic impact of two-dimensional panoramic radiography compared with three-dimensional CBCT imaging in pre-implantological diagnostics of premolars and molars in the maxilla and mandible. A retrospective analysis was performed including imaging data from 76 patients in whom both OPG and CBCT examinations were available for the same clinical situation. The vertical bone height was measured and compared between both imaging modalities. In addition, the visibility of clinically relevant anatomical structures, including the maxillary sinus, Schneiderian membrane, sinus septa, inferior alveolar nerve, and adjacent teeth, was assessed. Furthermore, treatment planning decisions based on each imaging modality were analyzed in order to determine whether the imaging method influenced the indication for implant placement or the need for additional procedures such as sinus floor elevation or bone augmentation. The results showed that measurements of the available bone height revealed no relevant differences between OPG and CBCT in the maxilla. In contrast, notable deviations were observed in the mandible, where panoramic radiography tended to underestimate the available bone height compared with CBCT. Moreover, CBCT provided improved visualization of relevant anatomical structures. In particular, the Schneiderian membrane and sinus septa could be reliably assessed only with CBCT, whereas the inferior alveolar nerve was consistently identifiable in CBCT images but not always clearly visible in panoramic radiographs. Within the limitations of this study, the results indicate that CBCT provides additional diagnostically relevant information for implant planning in the posterior jaw. Three-dimensional imaging improves the visualization of critical anatomical structures and may contribute to improved preoperative risk assessment, particularly in anatomically complex situations.