Dentists everywhere are dedicated to ensuring that they provide the most effective care for their patients possible. This is no mere case of altruism. In addition to producing results they can be proud of, patients return to dentists they trust with their oral health. Dentists rely on high-quality tools and equipment to provide the level of care their patients expect. One innovation that’s changing how procedures such as root canals are being performed is CBCT Technology.
How CBCT Technology Changes How Dentists Plan Treatment
CBCT stands for cone-beam computer tomography. This new form of imaging is utterly changing how treatment planning and diagnosing occurs. It is particularly effective as part of endodontic treatments. Root Canal Treatments are the endodontic procedure that most people are familiar with. It is an incredibly effective way of eliminating decay and saving a tooth that would otherwise need to be extracted. To accomplish this goal, your dentist must clean every nook and cranny of the tooth of decay.
CBCT produces highly precise 3D images of the structures within the oral cavity. This permits the dentist to identify concerns before they arise. It also ensures that they can find the incredibly tiny canals that blood vessels and pulp pass through in our teeth. To accomplish the following procedure must be followed:
- The patient stands with their chin on a stabilization platform
- A swing arm passes in a 180-degree arc in front of the patient, taking dozens of x-ray images
- The images are fed into a special piece of software
- The software transforms these images into a single 3D composite image of the patient’s oral cavity
These images are part of what makes CBCT such a revolutionary piece of technology in dental clinics. They take very little time to produce, involve less x-ray radiation than previous models and are rendered in a digital format. Once the 3D image is compiled, your dentist can view your oral structures from any angle.
This type of imaging has many other benefits, with highly precise results just the start. Patients experience less discomfort during the taking of these images. The whole imaging process takes only moments from start to finish. There’s no need for physical films or bite trays for the patient. The nasal cavity, nerve canals, and sinuses are all rendered as part of the final image. You can also feed the image into a special machine to print out a 3D model of your oral structures that can assist in treatment and diagnosis.
Learn How Your Dentist Uses CBCT In Their Practice
Want to know how you’re benefiting from CBCT technology as part of your care? Reach out to your dentist and request a consultation. They’ll discuss the equipment at use in their office, assess your oral health, and determine a treatment plan. You’ll work together to address your oral health concerns. Along the way, CBCT technology will make the whole process faster, easier, and more effective.