We are very excited to announce that the Valley Arts Dental Livingston office is ~3 weeks away from the installation of our first Cone Beam Ct Scan Machine ( CBCT). This machine can not only produce a panoramic 2D image of your teeth, but also a low radiation dose 3D image of your teeth and surrounding structures. CBCT machines are becoming instrumental in diagnosis as well as root canal, dental implant, and dental extraction procedures. See Dr. Klausner's blog post on CBCTs:
What is a CBCT Scan?
CBCT stands for cone-beam computed tomography. CBCT systems used by dental professionals rotate around you, capturing data using a cone-shaped x-ray.
In less than a minute, about 150-200 images are captured from a variety of angles. The data captured are used to reconstruct a 3D image of your:
Teeth
Mouth, jaw, and neck
Ears, nose, and throat (ENT)
Why we decided to bring in a CBCT scanner
CBCT scanners used to only be found in oral surgery offices or radiology clinics. They have become more widespread in the dental field because of the incredible diagnostic and treatment planning information these machines can provide. In the past our office utilized a 3rd party independent imaging service. In order to provide a quicker and more efficient patient experience we decided to bring this technology into our own office.
How is a CBCT different from traditional dental X-rays?
Most traditional dental c-rays use a sensor which is placed inside of a patients mouth to take images of each tooth and the surrounding structures. These are used to diagnose gum disease, cavities, dental abscesses, and lesions. A dental CBCT scan is a much more detailed and effective method for capturing certain information about a patient’s dental health. Unlike traditional dental x-rays, the cone beam CT scan can show both bones and soft tissues and most importantly shows in a 3-dimensional way.
What types of procedures are CBCTs used in
Diagnosis and detection of tumors or infection in a patient’s dental health.
Planning and placement of dental implants. Severe endodontic cases.
Dental surgery
Gum disease
Endodontics
Orthodontic treatment
For example... a CBCT can be used to accelerate orthodontic treatment -providing a 3D plan of where every tooth root is and where the root can and should be moved to...a CBCT can be used to diagnose an infection that for prior decades would have been missed using traditional radiographs
What happens during a CBCT Scan?
During a CBCT dental scan, a patient stands comfortably while the imaging machine slowly rotates around their head. The patient must be completely still during the scan, and so patients are often given something help you support the head in a still fashion. The CBCT scan lasts ~15-40 seconds, and is quick and painless.
Is cone beam CT covered by insurance?
It depends on the type of plan and your insurance provider. More and more insurance companies are beginning to cover CBCT scans for their policy holders. The cost of a CBCT scan without insurance typically ranges from 150$-350$. If you are not able to determine if your policy covers CBCTs make sure to ask us and we can check for you
