VALUE OF DENTASCAN FOR DENTAL AND MAXILLA RY PATHOLOGY

Material and methods: From July 1993 to April 1994, forty dentascans w ere performed at Bicetre Hospital, on an Elscint Elite Plus scanner fo r: chronic sinusitis (18 cases); cystic pathologies (8 cases); pre-ope rative assessment for dental implantation (14 cases). Results: Dentasc an images permitted a precise analysis of dentomaxillary anomalies. In all cases they demonstrated the anatomical relationships of the lesio ns, permitting a determination of potential complications. In chronic sinusitis dental pathology was demonstrated including peri-apical gran ulomas or cysts breaks or elevations of the floor of the maxillary sin us, malplaced dental filling material in the maxillary antrum and fist ula tracks. Among the 14 pre-operative assessments, four cases of infe ctious lesions were demonstrated, thereby counter-indicating dental im plantation. Conclusion: The dentascan appears to be very useful for de ntomaxillary pathology by facilitating diagnosis and the formulation o f treatment and operative strategies.