CONE BEAM CT 3D SCANS – VISUALIZING BONE VOLUME IN THE JAW, PRIOR TO SURGERY – Kanata Dental Implant Carleton Place

CONE BEAM CT 3D SCANS FOR VISUALIZING BONE VOLUME IN THE JAW, PRIOR TO SURGERY (PART 1)

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Cone beam dental computed tomography (CT) is a special type of X-ray equipment used when regular dental or facial X-rays are not enough. Your dentist may use this technology to produce three-dimensional (3D) images of your teeth, soft tissue, and the path of your nerves and bones in a single scan.

This procedure requires little to no preparation. Talk to your dentist if there is any chance that you may be pregnant. Wear loose, comfortable clothing, and leave jewelry at home.

 

WHAT IS A CONE BEAM DENTAL CT?

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Cone beam dental computed tomography (CT) is a special type of X-ray machine used in situations where standard dental or facial X-rays are not enough. Your dentist may use this scanner to produce three-dimensional (3D) images of your teeth, soft tissue, and the path of your nerves and bones in a single scan. This scanner uses a special type of technology to generate three-dimensional images of dental structures, soft tissues, nerves, and bones of the craniofacial region with a single scan. Images obtained with cone beam dental CT allow treatments to be much more precise.

Cone beam dental CT and conventional CT are not the same. However, cone beam dental CT can be used to produce dental images similar to those produced using conventional CT.

In the case of dental cone beam CT, a cone-shaped beam of rays is moved around the patient to produce a large number of images, also called views. Both CT and cone beam CT produce high quality images.

Cone beam dental CT was developed as a way to produce images of the same type as CT, but with machines that are much smaller and convenient. This way they could be used in a dental setting for regular patient care.

Cone beam CT provides detailed images of the skull and facial bones and is performed to evaluate diseases of the jaw, dentition, bone structures of the face, nasal cavity, and sinuses. It does not provide all the diagnostic information available with conventional CT or MRI, particularly during the evaluation of soft tissue structures such as muscles, lymph nodes, glands, and nerves. However, cone beam CT has the advantage of much lower radiation exposure compared to conventional CT.

 

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE COMMON USES OF THIS TECHNOLOGY?

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Cone beam dental CT in the dental setting is most commonly used for the planning and placement of dental implants. It is also useful in other dental situations that involve:

• planning for impacted tooth surgery.
• wisdom teeth
• diagnosis of temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ).
• evaluation of the jaws, sinuses, nerve canals and nasal cavity.
• detection and treatment of tumors of the jaw.
• determination of bone structure and tooth orientation.
• location of the origin of pain or pathology.
• cephalometric analysis.
• reconstructive surgery.
• orthodontic treatment planning

 

HOW SHOULD I PREPARE?

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No special preparation is required for cone beam dental CT.

Before the exam, you may be asked to remove all things that could interfere with the imaging, including metal objects such as jewelry, glasses, piercings, and hearing aids. While dentures must be removed, it is recommended that patients bring them to the exam, as their dentist or dental surgeon may need to check them as well.

Female patients should always inform the dentist or dental surgeon if there is any possibility that they are pregnant. If so, imaging should ideally be postponed.