VOLUMETRIC EVALUATION OF BONE TISSUE BY SUBTRACTION IN CONE BEAM TOMOGRAPHS AFTER GUIDED BONE REGENERATION: REVIEW OF CURRENT CONCEPTS

Abstract

Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has become an indispensable exam in dentistry as it allows accurate three-dimensional images with lower cost and radiation compared to conventional tomography. Among its applications, the subtraction of images obtained before and after guided bone regeneration (ROG) procedures stands out, a resource that allows objective measurement of volumetric changes in bone tissue. This chapter aims to critically review the literature on the use of subtraction in CBCT in the assessment of bone gains after ROG, highlighting its clinical applicability, limitations and scientific relevance. To this end, a systematic search was carried out in the SciELO, LILACS, MEDLINE and PubMed databases, covering articles published between 2000 and 2025. The studies analyzed indicate that the technique has been successfully used in different areas of Dentistry, such as alveolar preservation, maxillary sinus lifting and graft evaluation, in addition to presenting promising results in quantifying the effectiveness of regenerative protocols. It is concluded that CBCT subtraction constitutes a promising and reliable tool for volumetric assessment, although the lack of methodological standardization still limits its broad application.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56238/edimpacto2025.093-009