There is one thing that drives every dentist, regardless of their specialty. That is the desire to deliver the best possible care and most attractive results for their patients. Accomplishing this noble ambition requires that they have access to the proper equipment and materials. When these components wind up in the hands of a skilled dentist, you’re certain to get the best care results you could hope for. One of the newest tools to enter the field of dentistry is CBCT imaging. Cone-Beam Computer Tomography is capable of providing higher-quality results known for their incredible accuracy. Using these tools, your dentist can better develop your treatment plan and deliver astounding results.
How CBCT Technology is Revolutionizing Endodontic Care
Endodontic procedures, such as root canal procedures, are some of the most challenging treatments your dentist can perform. Despite being one of the more maligned treatments among patients, they can save a tooth otherwise beyond repair. Saving the tooth requires the dentist to remove decay and navigate minute channels within the root of the tooth itself. Throughout this process, they must ensure that every twisted nook and cranny is free of bacteria and necrotic tissue. CBCT technology makes this possible by producing highly precise images revealing even the smallest of canals within the tooth.
CBCT represents an incredible advancement over previous imaging techniques. Traditional dental X-Rays required multiple images to be taken, with bite plates replaced between each. These images would then be viewed individually, with the dentist trying to mentally assemble them into something like a 3D image. This technique is now outdated with the introduction of CBCT imaging. Rather than having multiple images taken over the space of a few minutes, CBCT takes hundreds in the space of a few seconds. This imaging is done using a camera suspended on a special swing arm. This arm moves in an arc in front of the patient. Miniscule amounts of X-ray radiation are used to create these images, stitched together using special software. The result is an incredibly precise 3D image that can be stored and viewed in a digital format.
There are numerous benefits to this approach to dental imaging:
- Increased accuracy that provides better treatment planning opportunities.
- Reduced time and discomfort for the patient.
- The digital format allows easy transfer of the results to other specialists.
- The sinuses, nerve canals, nasal cavities, and other orofacial structures are imaged in great detail.
Another impressive aspect of CBCT dental imaging is the possibility of producing a highly-precise physical 3D model of your orofacial structures. This image allows your dentist to clearly show what’s happening in your oral cavity and describe the approaches they can take to address the underlying issue.
Find Out How CBCT Is Used In Your Dentist’s Practice
CBCT is now a standard part of much dental practice care delivery. You can ask your hygienist or dental provider how they improve their delivery of care with this new imaging technology. The best time to do this is as part of your next bi-annual oral health care visit. Make sure you have yours set up by calling their office today!
