CBCT Digital Scan

Dental cone beam computed tomography is a special of x-ray. If regular facial or dental x-rays are insufficient, this technology can produce 3D images of your teeth, soft tissues, bone, and nerves with a single scan.

This type of scan delivers more radiation than a normal dental x-ray, so it is not used unless deemed necessary. However, it does provide less radiation than a full CT scan.

No metal objects should be near when this scan is done. All jewelry, glasses, hearing aids, hair pins, and even women’s bras with metal underwires will need to be removed. Dental appliances may also need to be removed.

This scan takes a large number of images with a cone-shaped x-ray beam. It was designed to use a smaller machine than a regular CT scanner, but still be able to get similar images. The images are used to evaluate diseases of the nasal cavity and sinuses, dentition, jaw, and bony structures of the face, although it cannot evaluate nerves, glands, muscles, or lymph nodes.

A CBCT digital scan is commonly used for more complex orthodontic issues, such as surgical planning, TMJ diagnosis, or determining the origin of pain.