Awareness of dental students towards CBCT: A cross sectional study

Background: Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a new technology, in which two-dimensional detectors and conical beam are used instead of fan shaped beam in conventional computed CT. In CBCT, volumetric data are collected by the rotation of beam and detectors around the desired area of interest. The principal advantages of CBCT are in the smaller footprint of the machine and lower radiation dose. The knowledge of this imaging modality is limited and hence the application in clinical practice is not fully achieved. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the knowledge about Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) among interns of two Dental colleges in Chennai and their willingness to use this piece of imaging for their routine dental practice. Material and Methods: A closed-ended questionnaire was circulated to the interns of two dental colleges after obtaining necessary consent. Results: The results showed that there is a lack of knowledge regarding the application of this imaging modality and it is being applied in some areas where it is prone to give false-positive results. Conclusion: Overall, dentists had an average level of knowledge for CBCT. It is recommended that qualification programs to held for dentists to strengthen their awareness toward cone-beam computed tomography.