CBCT

When conventional digital X-rays don’t give enough of a picture of your oral health, cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) may be necessary. At Kings Highway Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery in the Midwood neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York, the experienced team offers cone-beam X-rays to help them diagnose oral health problems that affect the bone, soft tissues, and underlying structures of your teeth. To take advantage of this advanced technology, call the office or schedule a consultation online today.

What is CBCT?

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) involves your provider taking a series of dental X-rays to create a detailed 3D image of your oral structures. 

The technology delivers an X-ray beam in a cone shape. The device takes hundreds of images as it rotates around your head. It then compiles these images into one 3D image. 

These 3D images can be segmented into “slices,” allowing your dental specialist to view detailed images of your teeth, bones, soft tissue, gums, and blood vessels in just one single scan.

How do I benefit from CBCT?

CBCT provides one high-resolution image. It can be divided into segments to investigate specific areas of your oral health. 

They provide greater detail and precision, compared to digital X-rays. This allows the oral surgeons at Kings Highway Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery to evaluate and diagnose any problems more effectively. 

How do I know if I need CBCT? 

When a digital X-ray doesn’t provide enough information, your provider may recommend a cone beam X-ray. At Kings Highway Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, the team routinely uses CBCT scans to plan surgeries for wisdom tooth extraction or placement of dental implants. 

Other reasons you might need CBCT include: 

• Diagnosis of temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder
• Detection of jaw tumors
• Check of the nerve canals
• Evaluation of the sinuses, jaw, and nasal cavities
• Assessment of bone structure and tooth orientation
• Determination of the location of a possible tumor or cancer

The state-of-the-art facility, Kings Highway Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, offers CBCT scans to patients when needed. You don’t have to worry about getting the procedure done at a separate facility. 

What is it like to get a CBCT?

During your cone-beam X-ray, you rest your chin on a small platform and press your forehead against a pad. 

You sit as still as possible as the arm of the machine rotates 360 degrees around your head. The X-ray source and detector take hundreds of detailed 2D images that it then compiles into one 3D image. 

The process takes less than a minute. CBCT scans are non-invasive and cause no pain or discomfort. 

To learn more about CBCT and how it is used to evaluate your oral health, call Kings Highway Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery or schedule a consultation online today.