What Is a Cone Beam Image?
Posted by DENTAL SPECIALISTS OF NORTH FLORIDA on Mar 18 2022, 12:43 AM
Dental cone beam computed tomography (CT) is a type of X-ray machine that is utilized when standard dental or face X-rays aren't enough to assess your dental health.
Cone beam CT is a safe imaging technology that produces three-dimensional (3-D) images of your teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and bone.
In this article, our experts at Dental Specialists of North Florida in Saint Augustine and Palm Coast, Florida, share an overview of cone beam imaging in dentistry along with its benefits and risks.
3D Cone Beam Imaging
The technology used for CBCT scans is quite new. These machines use a rotating gantry with an X-ray source and detector to provide 3D dental images.
Dental cone beam CT provides hundreds of planar projection pictures within a single rotation thanks to the cone-shaped source of ionizing radiation that is directed across the region being inspected.
Difference Between Traditional CT and CBCT Scans
Traditional CT scans use a fan-shaped beam that requires stacking individual image slices to create a 3D representation, whereas the CBCT dental scans allow for the incorporation of the entire field of vision. As a result, cone beam imaging is easier to use, less costly, and safer when compared to standard technology.
Uses of Cone Beam Imaging
Cone beam imaging is a diagnostic tool for TMJ issues, jaw tumors, as well as for complex procedures such as surgery planning for impacted teeth and oral reconstruction.
Our dentists also use this technology to assess your bone structure, teeth alignment, jaw, sinuses, nasal cavity, and nerve canals. It also aids in the precise placement of dental implants.
Benefits
CBCT scanning is noninvasive, painless, and accurate
The capacity of CBCTs to examine both bone and soft tissue at the same time is a significant benefit
After a CBCT scan, no radiation is left in the patient's body
Risks
Children are more sensitive to radiation so this type of X-ray should only be used if absolutely necessary.
For queries related to cone beam imaging and the different types of X-rays and scans used in dentistry, call Dental Specialists of North Florida at (904) 794-1000 or (386) 986-1000. You can also visit us at 10 Saint Johns Medical Park Drive, Suite C, Saint Augustine, FL 32086 and 3 Cypress Branch Way # 107, Palm Coast, FL 32164.
