Dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a special type of x-ray machine used when regular two-dimensional (2-D) dental x-rays cannot provide sufficient information. This type of scan creates three dimensional (3-D) images of the dental structures, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and jawbone, allowing for precise treatment planning.
CBCT is not the same as conventional medical CT. However, dental CBCT can be used to generate high quality images with less radiation exposure compared to medical CT scans.
With a dental CBCT, a cone-shaped x-ray beam moves around you to produce several images or views to create a three-dimensional view of the targeted area.
Dr. Lam may recommend you receive a CBCT for a variety of reasons:
- Planning for accurate placement of dental implants
- Evaluation of the jaw, sinuses, nerve canals and nasal cavity
- Determining bone structure and tooth orientation
- Locating the origin of pain or pathology
- Surgical planning for impacted teeth prior to orthodontic tooth exposure
At Clifton Park Periodontics, we use the Kavo OP3D machine, the latest in CBCT technology.