At your routine dental checkup, you’re used to having X-rays taken of your teeth, but during this visit, your dentist tells you they want to have images taken with their cone beam CT scanner. You’ve probably heard of medical doctors using CT scans, and now more and more dentists utilize this piece of technology too. Why are cone beam CT scanners becoming more widely used by dentists in their practices? Here are three reasons!
Multiple Purposes and Uses
At the store, you’ll find a million devices for each task you can complete in the kitchen, but isn’t it nice when you can invest in one piece of equipment that fulfills several purposes at once? Although a cone beam CT scanner is most famously known for providing detailed imaging for planning dental implants, dentists can utilize this technology for various issues, including evaluating your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) if you have jaw pain. By taking advantage of this device, your dentist can provide better care for many different problems, not just dental implants.
More Accurate Diagnoses
Digital X-rays have come a long way, but like their traditional counterpart, they still mainly reveal tooth and bone structures. And even then, these images do not show all the information needed to make definitive diagnoses.
When diagnosing TMJ disorder, for example, X-rays do not look at the overall bite and muscles, just one section of the patient’s teeth. To get a fuller understanding and “see the bigger picture,” your dentist needs to look at your entire oral cavity, which only a cone beam CT scanner can provide.
In the case of dental implants, a dentist can use this technology to find out if bone grafts or other preliminary procedures are necessary to increase the chances of successful implant placement.
More Precise Planning
Prior to performing complex dental procedures, your dentist needs to be as prepared as possible. After all, you wouldn’t want them to go into a surgical procedure blind! Having a detailed map of your oral cavity tells them where they should work to avoid blood vessels, nerve endings, and other oral structures. Armed with the kind of information a cone beam CT scanner offers, your dentist can reduce complications, like excessive bleeding and infection, and make the recovery easier and smoother.
In the end, your dentist wants to deliver the best possible treatment, and the truth is that a cone beam CT scanner enables them to do just that. If they have and take advantage of this technology, you can have peace of mind that your care and comfort are at the top of their priority list.
About the Practice
In their practice, Dr. Stacy and Dr. Jessica Dean have invested in the industry’s most cutting-edge technology, including a cone beam CT scanner as well as laser dentistry and more. As a result, patients can expect state-of-the-art treatment under one roof. If you have questions about the technology we use to make your dental visits better, don’t hesitate to reach out to us online or call our Washington office at 724-204-5882.