When you need oral surgery, wisdom teeth removal, or dental implants, our doctor, Dr. Letelier, at The Center for Oral Surgery of Las Vegas can help. Our Las Vegas office offers Computed tomography (CT) imaging or Cone Beam CT scans to get detailed images of your mouth so that we can determine exactly what kind of treatment is best. What is a Cone Beam CT scan, however, and why is it helpful? Here are some facts and myths about the procedure.
At The Center for Oral Surgery of Las Vegas, Dr. Letelier uses Cone Beach CT scans to plan treatments for dental implants, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and treatment of oral and maxillofacial pathology. Because all three are considered intensive treatment procedures, it’s important to get detailed images of the patient’s gums, bones, tissue, and blood vessels inside the mouth.
The Cone Beam CT (CBCT) scan is a cone-shaped X-ray beam that goes around patients, photographing images from different angles and then providing cross-sectional images. These images are reconstructed so that doctors can get a three-dimensional, detailed view of the patient’s problem areas.
There are three main facts that patients should know about Cone Beam CT scans.
CBCT scans produce very low radiation. This is because the area that is being photographed is small. Despite the low radiation dose, the images are high quality. This makes the test especially effective.
The scan takes only a few minutes, and it is painless as well as non-invasive. After the patient is placed in the scanner, the CBCT scan is produced after just one rotation.
Because the images are so detailed, they provide a good overview of the problem areas in the patient’s mouth. These images are instrumental in helping doctors devise a treatment plan for patients.
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Although CBCT scans are safe, effective, and painless, there are a few myths swirling around the procedure.
CBCT scans are different from traditional CT scans in a couple of ways. CBCT scans are localized to just one area of the body while traditional CT scans typically scan larger portions of the body. In addition, CBCT scans use lower radiation doses compared to traditional CT scans.
Although CBCT scans do expose patients to radiation, the dose is low. What’s more, the area scanned is small and localized, which also reduces the patient’s exposure to radiation.
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If you need to set up a CT Scan, we can help. Our doctor, Dr. Letelier, uses CBCT scans to get a better look at your bones and structures of the face. To schedule an appointment at The Center for Oral Surgery of Las Vegas, visit our website or call us today.