Cone Beam CT Scan
We are pleased to announce that once again, Dr. Katz’s Dental Office is updating the diagnostic and imaging systems by bringing in innovative technology. We now have replaced our digital panoramic Scanner with an ultra-modern “state-of-the-art” 3D cone beam CT Scanner. Installing this Scanner is just another way that we are staying current in our profession.
What is a CBCT scanner?
3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is an imaging technology that allows us to evaluate the underlying bone structure, nerve pathways, and surrounding soft tissues. During a CBCT scan, the imaging machine rotates entirely around the head. About 150-200 images are captured from various angles and compiled into a single 3D picture in less than a minute.
CBCT scans are quick, and in most cases, a full mouth scan only takes about 20-40 seconds. When having a CBCT scan taken, an x-ray arm slowly rotates around your head. To ensure your head remains still during the scan, we may have you rest your head against part of the machine and gently use stabilizers in or around your ears to hold your head in place. The scan should cause you no discomfort.
In case you are wondering, CBCT scans do use radiation. However, they use significantly less radiation than traditional CT scanners and are considered to be safe. At any given time, we are all exposed to what is known as background radiation. A medical CT scanner produces enough radiation equivalent to 63-154 days of background radiation, while a CBCT scan only produces about 6-30 days.
Why do I need a 3D CBCT scan?
Now that you understand what a CBCT scan is and how it works, let’s see why you may need one. For starters, we will likely recommend a CBCT scan if you are considering dental implants because it can provide a detailed picture of your bones, nerves, and soft tissues. A single CBCT scan can show potential dental issues such as tooth decay, bone loss, abnormal growths, facial fractures, periodontal infections, irregularities of the temporomandibular joint, and problems with the tooth roots or dental pulp. This allows Dr. Katz to determine if dental implants can be safely and effectively placed. In addition, with the 3D CBCT scanner, Dr. Katz can now create precise surgical guides for the exact placement of each Implant. We call this “Computer-Guided Implant Surgery“.
A large part of successful dental treatment outcomes involves careful planning before the actual procedure, and having a CBCT scan makes this process much more accurate. Since a CBCT scan shows all your bones, nerves, and soft tissues in extreme detail, this will enable us to establish the exact approach before we even begin the procedure. It also allows us to identify possible complications ahead of time to take the necessary steps to avoid or minimize these complications. Overall, this means that your implant procedure will go smoother, and you are more likely to have a successful outcome. Not only are CBCT scans used to determine candidacy for having dental implants placed, but they can also be used as part of the treatment planning and diagnosis of other dental problems. Using the CBCT scanner in conjunction with Endodontics (Root Canal Therapy) can significantly increase these procedures’ success rate.
