The overall diagnosis and prognosis of orofacial implants depends on a practitioner's ability to determine the quantity and quality of bone, the proposed positioning of the implant(s), and an ability to predict the success of osseointegration. According to current research, the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology suggests that panograms be used to visualize the mesial-distal view of a region and also to rule out gross pathology (2). These studies suggest that if there is sufficient bone that the surgeon utilize a method of cross-sectional imagery, whether conventional or computerized (CT) tomography. Another study indicated that only 10.1% of practitioners prescribed tomography along with other imaging modalities, while the majority of dentists (63.8%) only used panograms for implant assessment (2). Lastly, another study showed that 75% of panographically-selected sites had to be changed when reevaluated with cross-sectional imagery (3). Objectives: This study was to survey dentists placing implants in Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania to gage whether the published “standard of care” is actually being implemented in private practice. Methods: Four hundred and seven practitioners were surveyed with a 10-item questionnaire to assess how determinations are made in the preoperatory phase of surgical implant placement. The sample participants were randomly selected via an internet search of dental implants, implant dentistry and dentists. The dentists listed in the directory of American Academy of Implantology website were also included. Results: The majority of dentists use periapical and panogram radiographs exclusively for treatment planning. Those that do not use tomography do so for the following reasons; cost, availability and interpretation. Few encountered a procedural error during placement and had to deviate from original treatment plan. Conclusion: Most dentists feel that cross-sectional imaging is important to treatment planning. Most agreed that they would be interested in continuing education on newer imaging techniques.

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