Cone beam 3D imaging is the best way to get a complete picture of your teeth.
What is 3D cone beam imaging?
Cone beam 3D imaging is a new technology that enables dentists to see detailed three dimensional images of teeth, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and bone in craniofacial regions.
Cone beam imaging uses a x-ray beam in the shape of a cone that moves around a patients’ head capturing numerous images that are reconstructed with a special software to produce a three-dimensional image.
How does 3D imaging help you?
These images can be more helpful than traditional dental x-rays since the technology allows us to see structures in the head & neck region from every angle. 3D cone beam imaging is not a substitution of 2D traditional x-rays and is used when medically necessary.
Here are some reasons why we would want to take a 3D image
- Placing dental implants accurately
- Locating the origin of pain and pathology of teeth and jaws Diagnosing TMJ disorders
- Planning for extractions, especially of impacted teeth
- Evaluating the jaw, sinuses, nasal cavity, and nerve canals
- Determining if a root canal is your best treatment option
- Tooth and jaw fractures
- Sleep apnea
Getting a Cone Beam 3D image is simple and takes less than a minute. Only preparation that needs to be done is to take off any metal jewelry, eyeglasses, dentures or partial dentures so that we can get the best image possible. The radiation emitted from a 3D x-ray machine is extremely small. Advanced dental imaging takes less time so you are exposed to less radiation. If you have concerns about this topic, we are happy to discuss it in more detail.
