For Patients
At The Scanning Suite, we are delighted to offer you a dental cone beam CT (computed tomography) scan for greater accuracy of the diagnosis and treatment that you are having.
About your Scan
The dental CT scan creates a 3D image of your mouth, combining your teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and bone structure and shape.
The image is created by combining dental X-rays, and the computer-processed X-ray information.
Your dentist may use this information in case of impacted teeth, for implants, for orthodontic treatment, to diagnose TMJ (temporomandibular joint disorder), or in other circumstances.
What happens during a CBCT scan?
You will be seated in the CBCT machine. Your head will be carefully positioned and you will be asked to keep still while the scan is taken.
The positioning takes a few minutes, but each scan takes less than a minute to perform. The whole procedure should not take more than 15 minutes
Why should I have a CBCT scan?
The scan will give detailed information to your Dentist which cannot be obtained from normal x-ray examinations.
For example, if you are being considered for dental implant treatment or other specialist procedures, it enables your dentist to assess the exact shape of the bone for more accurate treatment planning.
Are there any risks?
CBCT scans are low-dose examinations and give an x-ray dose that is normally considerably less than a medical CT scan.
A CBCT scan will give approximately one fifth to one tenth of the dose of a conventional CT scan of the same area.
As with any x-ray examination, please inform the radiographer if you might be pregnant
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I prepare?
Before your CBCT you will be asked to remove glasses, earrings, dentures, hearing aids, nose or tongue piercings, necklaces, hair clips and any other metal accessories that may affect the scan.
Do I need to wear a stent?
If your scan is to aid dental implant planning, you may be asked by your dentist to bring a stent with you. This is a dental ‘plate’ which you will wear like a denture, containing markers to guide the x-ray examination.
Will I feel any pain?
This procedure is not painful, but you will need to remain still for the duration of the scan. If you are claustrophobic please let the radiographer know so that they can offer you appropriate support and advice.
What happens after I have had the CBCT scan?
After the scan you will be able to go home straight away. Your scan will be sent to the dentist who has referred you to us for the examination.
Will I have a follow-up appointment?
Normally you will have a follow up appointment arranged by the dentist who originally referred you to us.
What should I do if I have a problem?
In the unlikely event that you experience any problems following the CBCT scan, please contact a member of our team who will be able to assist your further.