Dental CT Scan

CT Scan Service

CBCT stands for Cone Beam Computed Tomography. It is a technology used to take three dimensional (3-D) images of your teeth, maxillary sinus, nerve pathways, and bone in the maxillofacial region with a single scan. The CBCT system rotates around the patient in approximately 30 seconds, capturing data using a cone-shaped x-ray beam.

Dental cone beam computed tomography is used when regular two-dimensional dental x-rays are not sufficient. With CBCT, clinicians can get highly detailed 3-D views of the facial region with lower radiation exposure than a conventional CT Scan. This may help in the diagnosis, treatment planning and evaluation of certain conditions.

Oral surgeons commonly utilize this technology to assess the following treatment options :
• Accurate placement of dental implants and tooth orientation.
• Calculating the size and shape of the dental ridge.
• Assessment of the quantity and quality of bone.
• Evaluation of the nasal cavity.
• Determining the need for a bone graft or sinus lift.
• Surgical planning for impacted teeth.
• Detecting inferior alveolar nerve position for removal of lower wisdom teeth.
• Locating the origin of pain or pathology.
• Detecting, measuring and treating jaw tumors.
• Diagnosing temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). • Cleft palate assessment.

How Is a CT scan Performed?

We may give you a special dye called contrast material to help internal structures to show up more clearly on the X-ray images. The contrast material blocks the X-rays and it appears white on the images, allowing it to highlight the intestines, blood vessels, or other structures in the area which are examined. Depending upon the part of your body that is going to be inspected, you may need to drink a liquid. As we are going to take a CT scan of your tooth or teeth so there are not as such risks at all. Alternatively, the contrast may need to be injected into your arm or administered through your rectum via an enema. If you plan on using contrast material, we may ask you to fast for four to six hours before your CT scan happens.

When it comes time to have your CT scan, you’ll be asked to change into a hospital gown and to remove any metallic objects if you are wearing any. Metal can interfere and can change your CT scan results. These items include jewelry, glasses, and dentures too. We will then ask you to lie face up on a table that slides into the CT scanner. We will leave the exam room and will go into the control room where they can see you and hear you. You’ll be able to communicate with us via an intercom.

While the table will slowly move you into the scanner, and the X-ray machine will rotate around you. Each rotation will produce numerous of images of thin slices of your body. You may hear clicking, buzzing, and whirring noises during the scanning. The table will move a few millimeters at a time until the exam gets finished. The entire procedure may take a time of approximately 20 minutes to one hour.It’s very important to lie still while CT images are being taken as movement can result in the blurry pictures. We may ask you to hold your breath for just a short period during the test to prevent your chest from moving up and down. If a young child needs a CT scan, we may recommend a sedative to stop the child from moving.

Once the CT scan is over, the images are sent to a radiologist for it’s an examination. A radiologist is a doctor who is a specialist in diagnosing and treating conditions using imaging techniques, such as CT scans and X-rays. Then we will follow-up with you to explain the results.

CT scan Risks

Some people are allergic to the ingredients that are present in the contrast dye, resulting in nausea and vomiting, sneezing, itching, or hives.Also, CT scans produce far more ionizing radiation than traditional X-rays.A single abdominal scan, delivers up to 400 times more radiation of a single chest X-ray, according to the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering.Rare complications of this radiation can cause many problems but not in the case of Dental CT scan. It may cause in scanning other parts of your body. So, in the case of a dental CT scan, these problems don’t happen.
• Skin reddening and tissue injury
• Hair loss
• Cataracts
• Birth defects if used during pregnancy