What are CBCT scans and how are they different from traditional dental X-rays?
The difference between a CBCT and traditional digital X-rays is mainly that CBCT is going to give you a full view of your jaw. It's a 3D image. Regular dental X-rays are flat images in 2D, where you cannot see the depth of the area that you want to analyze. It also gives you a view of your sinuses, the nerves, and the location of the teeth, if there's any infection, any cyst, or anything that can be hidden with a regular 2D image, which is the regular dental X-rays.
How do CBCT scans work?
CBCTs are, nowadays, the latest technology and are very easy and very simple. You will stand in the equipment, which is what you see in the background, and the machine will rotate around your head. Then it will project that image into a software where it's going to give us all the information that we're looking for in order to diagnose and treatment plan accordingly.
What are CBCT scans used for in dentistry?
CBCTs are extremely useful in dentistry. Some of the reasons are for implants. When we want to plan cases, more complex cases, we always want a CBCT because we want to measure your bone and determine where the anatomical structures are, your nerves, and your sinuses.
It also helps diagnose and propose a better treatment plan for root canals when there are missing canals or when there are additional canals in a tooth that the CBCT is going to allow us to diagnose, to better treatment plan for what you need.
When do you typically recommend a CBCT scan?
CBCTs are typically indicated in our office for our patients when we are going to place dental implants because, of course, it's going to give us the most accurate information about where your bone is and where your anatomical structures are. Together with our intraoral scan, we can definitely plan without guessing. It's very accurate for implant planning.
It also gives us the tools to do root canals and to better diagnose where the canals are if you have any infection. It helps to have a better vision, a broader vision, about your entire mouth because it's a general overview, and that will help to plan the treatment and diagnose bigger cases. It can also be used for TMJ and to check for any impacted teeth.
What can a CBCT scan show that regular dental X-rays might miss?
CBCTs can give us more detailed information that we are not able to see on regular X-rays, and that information might be related to an infection that is just starting, hidden canals when we are planning for a root canal. It allows us to get information about possible impaction and impacted teeth, cysts, pathology, implant placement, location of the nerves, and location of the anatomical structures.
What should patients expect during a CBCT appointment?
Patients can expect, during their appointment when they come into our office for a CBCT, a very simple and quick appointment. It's very short. The process takes around a minute or so, and you will be standing in front of the machine. One of our staff members, our assistants, is going to position your head accordingly. You're going to bite down on a separator, and then the machine is going to rotate around your head, and after 5 minutes, we will have all the images in a software, allowing us to better diagnose and treatment plan for you.
How much do CBCT scans cost?
CBCTs, nowadays, are much more affordable, and it also depends on what kind of procedure we're trying to plan treatment for you or what kind of diagnosis we're looking for.
If we are going to do a root canal, we're not going to do a full CBCT because you don't need to scan the entire mouth, and we will just do a localized CBCT in the tooth, the area, or the quadrant that we are planning on doing the root canal.
If it will be for dental implant planning or more complex cases, then we are going to do a CT scan, which is a full scan of your upper and lower jaw, and both CBCTs can range between $150 and $250.
Are CBCT scans safe?
CBCTs are extremely safe nowadays. Radiation is very minimal, and definitely they are absolutely safe. You don't need to worry about that when you come to our office because we only indicate CBCTs when the patient absolutely needs it.
Can CBCT scans help diagnose issues beyond the issues with my teeth?
CBCTs will give us a lot of information to diagnose beyond the teeth. As I mentioned before, it's going to allow us to diagnose possible infections coming from the teeth, also sinus infections, impacted teeth, and it can also be used for TMJ, among other uses.
What should you look for in a provider offering CBCT scans?
When you need a CBCT for your mouth, for your teeth, you definitely want to look for a provider that has the latest technology in the office, that it's a short appointment, and somebody that is skilled enough and has the proper training to be able to read the CBCT accordingly and to propose and diagnose a treatment according to your needs.
If you need a CBCT, if you're looking for an implant placement, if you're missing teeth, if you have pain and need a root canal, please give us a call and we'll be more than happy to help you, and we'll be more than happy to walk you through the CBCT process! Just give us a call at (239) 445-4205 or email [email protected] to schedule your visit. Our team is here to help you every step of the way.