OCTOBER 2025 TRAINING: DENTOMAXILLOFACIAL RADIOLOGY BASED ON CONE BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY (CBCT)
The Department of Dental Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FKG UGM), organised a guest lecture entitled “Endodontic Lesion: The Role of Radiography in Diagnosis and Treatment.” The session featured Dr. drg. Ike Dwi Maharti, Sp.KG., Subsp.KE., a faculty member of the Department of Conservative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, Universitas Indonesia.
Conducted online via the Zoom platform, the lecture was attended by students, lecturers, and dental practitioners from various institutions. This guest lecture formed part of the UGM Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology Specialist Programme’s efforts to strengthen participants’ understanding of the role of radiography in the diagnosis and management of endodontic cases.
Radiography as a Core Component of Endodontic Diagnosis
In her presentation, Dr. Ike explained that imaging plays a central role in establishing diagnoses, formulating treatment plans, and evaluating endodontic treatment outcomes. Intra-oral periapical radiographs (IOPA) were described as a fundamental modality that must be mastered, while Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) was presented as a technology with high diagnostic value for anatomically complex cases.
“CBCT provides highly informative three-dimensional images for selected cases; however, its use must remain selective and aligned with principles of benefit and patient safety,” she explained.
A Comprehensive Approach to Pulpal and Periapical Diagnosis
The lecture material included a comprehensive discussion of pulpal disease classifications and various periapical conditions, including symptomatic apical periodontitis, acute apical abscess, and radiopaque abnormalities such as condensing osteitis. Dr. Ike emphasised the importance of correlating clinical findings, vitality testing, and radiographic analysis to achieve an accurate diagnosis.
CBCT and Innovation in Endodontic Microsurgery
A topic that attracted significant attention was the application of CBCT in endodontic microsurgery and the development of guided endodontics, including Static Guided Endodontics (SGE), Dynamic Guided Endodontics (DGE), and the Bone Window technique. These approaches were considered capable of enhancing procedural precision and minimising risks in complex cases.
The Future of Endodontic Radiology
In addition to current technologies, Dr. Ike also presented emerging innovations such as dental-dedicated MRI (ddMRI) and the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to reduce imaging distortion and assist in lesion detection. These developments are expected to transform the diagnostic paradigm in endodontics in the coming years.
(Andri Wicaksono | Photo: Mitra Keluarga & Personal Archive)
