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How Cone Beam X-Rays Improve Outcomes In Dental Situations?


Dental beam CT (computer tomography) is an x-ray machine that is used in 3D imaging by oral surgeons or dentists, when regular dental x-rays don’t yield sufficient results. This procedure is not performed routinely because the radiations emitted from its scanners are more as compared to those of regular x-rays found at the dentist.

The CT scanner has special features that enable it to display three dimensional (3D) pictures of nerve paths, soft tissues, bones, and dental structures located at the craniofacial area. The high-quality images produced allows precise planning for treatment. The images are used to evaluate illnesses that affect the jaw, sinuses, dentition, facial bony structures, and the nasal cavity.

Dentist showing the Cone Beam X-ray to patient

Common Uses of the Dental Cone Beam

This technique is widely used in the field of orthodontics to prepare a treatment program routine for each patient. It can however, be used in extreme cases that will involve:

  • Reconstructive surgery
  • Evaluation of nerve canals, the nasal cavity, and the jaws
  • Pathology, or the identification of the origin/source of pain
  • The placement of teeth implants
  • Detection and treatment of jaw tumors
  • TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder) diagnosis
  • Tooth orientation

How to Prepare

This examination does not need any special preparation. All that is required of you is to make sure that you don’t have any metallic objects like jewelry, hairpins, hearing aids, or eyeglasses on you during the scan as they tend to affect the imaging process and can lead to a misdiagnosis.

Dentists in Smithfield, Utah, advise people with temporary dental works to bring them to the oral surgeon or dentist to have them examined as well. Expectant mothers are also advised against going for the procedure.

How the Procedure is Performed?

During the examination, you will be requested to either lie on the examining table or to sit on the examining chair. This will depend on the type of scanner to be used. You will be positioned by the oral surgeon in a position that sets the area to be examined at the center of the beam. While you remain still, the detector and the x-ray source will make a 360-degree rotation while generating 2D images of the dental structures and the whole mouth with a resolution of up to 200. The images are then combined digitally to create 3D images that provide oral surgeons or dentists with information about the patient’s craniofacial and oral health.

The Benefits

  • The CT has the ability to image soft tissue and bones in one scan
  • It is accurate, non-invasive, and painless
  • Provides additional information than dental x-rays
  • No radiation will remain in the body of the patient after the examination


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