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The following article was published in Your Health Magazine. Our mission is to empower people to live healthier.
Celeste Balino, DDS
CT Scans In Dentistry
King Centre Dental
. http://www.kingcentredental.com/

CT Scans In Dentistry

Cone-beam 3-D technology has become more popular for dental imaging, especially in complex cases. Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) produces an exceedingly accurate scan of the head and neck and then is fed into a software program which depicts the anatomy of the patient in three dimensions. This can be visualized as a virtual reproduction that is accurate down to within a tenth of a millimeter (0.10 mm).

This information can be viewed chair-side with the patient and can be especially important in the placement of dental implants. A dental implant is an artificial tooth root placed into the jawbone to hold single or multiple replacement teeth.

What type of screening is available for dental implant planning?

Customary x-rays provide only a restricted two-dimensional view. While they can illustrate the height and contour of the jawbone, they give no indication of the bone width and density and may distort the location of the nerves or blood vessels.

State-of-the-art three-dimensional computerized tomography (CT) dental imaging takes the guesswork out of implant dentistry. This quick diagnostic imaging exam can be performed safely to produce life-like spatial views of the mouth that let the dentist determine pre-surgically if a patient is an implant candidate. With 3D imaging, a dentist can proceed with confidence, knowing the amount of bone a patient has, the distance to nerves and the exact angles to position the implant.

CT dental imaging is used during the consultation appointment with the dentist. The more information a dentist has about the anatomy of the patient's mouth before a dental implant, the better the outcome. Important measurements for the dentist to know include the width and density of the bony ridge in order to assess implant feasibility and the exact location of the nerves in order to prevent painful nerve damage. It can also help visualize nerve locations prior to wisdom tooth extraction.

Talking to a dentist who is trained and uses CT imaging is the first step in determining if this new technology can benefit you.

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