Selection criteria for dental implant site imaging: A position paper of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology

The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (AAOMR) has review ed the implant imaging literature and issues this position paper for preope rative assessment of the dental implant site. The history of dental implant radiology and basic imaging principles are reviewed. An overview is presen ted of anatomically salient features in the maxilla and mandible germane to implant imaging, specifically to cross-sectional or transverse imaging for endosseous implants. All current modalities, including intraoral, panorami c, cephalometric, tomographic, and computed tomography, are discussed in li ght of the imaging data needed to select optimum implant solutions. After r eviewing the current literature, the AAOMR recommends that some form of cro ss-sectional imaging ise used for implant cases and that conventional cross -sectional tomography be the method of choice for gaining this information for most patients receiving implants.