CAT Scan Cone Beam X-ray

State-of-the-art imaging technology like the CBCT cone beam X-ray enhances all aspects of the diagnostic and treatment process. At Desert Dental in North Hollywood, California, Brian Shahangian, DDS, and Bita Shahangian, DDS, offer this advanced digital imaging option. If you’d like to learn more about CAT scan cone beam X-ray, call the office to book a visit, or schedule online any time of day or night.

What is a CAT scan cone beam X-ray?

Dental cone beam computed tomography (CT or CBCT) is a specific type of X-ray that creates 3D imaging. It’s a wonderful tool that gives your dentist an excellent “view” of your teeth, bone, soft tissues, and nerve pathways using just one scan. 

A visual dental exam is a great way to check for signs of dental decay and gum disease, but nothing matches the visualization made possible through dental cone beam CT scanning. The iCAT CBCT cone beam system quickly takes a series of multiple X-ray images. Next, a special software program combines those images to create precise representations.

What kinds of dental health issues can a CAT scan cone beam X-ray detect?

The CAT scan cone beam X-ray facilitates a number of diagnostic efforts. Some of the dental health conditions this powerful tool can identify include:

• Impacted teeth, including wisdom teeth
• Misalignment issues
• Factors in temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJD)
• Treatment planning for dental implants
• Source of dental pain
• Jaw tumors
• Treatment planning for full mouth reconstruction

These are just a few of the uses for CBCT cone beam X-ray technology. Your dentist provides more details if they feel this option is a good fit for your needs.

Is it painful to have a CAT scan cone beam X-ray?

One of the reasons that CAT scan cone beam X-rays are so commonly used in modern dental practice is the ability to create exceptional imaging in a painless process. There is no need for any form of anesthesia to prepare for your scan. 

It’s important to remove any jewelry and stay as still as possible while the equipment creates your imaging. Cone beam X-rays emit a small volume of radiation that passes through your body to form multiple images. 

The system takes hundreds of “pictures” of your mouth in less than a minute. An arm of the device moves around your head but doesn’t make contact with your body. You’re not confined within a small space, and people with claustrophobia tolerate these scans well. 

The volume of radiation used during the scan is less than the amount used in traditional CT scanning. Some experts assert it emits the similar volume of radiation as you’d experience during a five-hour airplane flight. 

If you’d like to explore this imaging option in greater detail, call Desert Dental today to book a visit, or schedule online in just a matter of moments.