Ask Our Help Desk: Troubleshooting Tips for a Dental CBCT Machine

As a dental professional, getting a proper X-ray scan is vital for making an accurate diagnosis. And, with your investment in cone beam technology, you want to be able to utilize all the advanced capabilities 3D imaging has to offer.

Rarely, your CBCT system may have issues producing high-quality images. In many cases, these issues can be addressed with some in-house troubleshooting -  without requiring a visit from an onsite technician.

To help, we asked our 5-star rated Customer Help Desk here at Renew Digital how a dental practice can troubleshoot some of the most common issues related to dental CBCT machines. Below, we’re sharing their top troubleshooting tips - which address a variety of issues that can affect both your 2D and 3D image quality outputs, as well as manufacturer-specific advice where applicable.

Patient Positioning Errors

If you’re having frequent issues getting a diagnostic quality image from your CBCT, the problem may not be with your machine - you may need to review patient positioning with your staff.

First, you must ensure the patient is positioned properly and remains still. Next, your staff needs to make sure the machine settings are appropriate for the image being taken based upon the required exam and the patient’s size.

Dental CBCT machines from most major manufacturers come with guide beams to assist you in proper patient positioning. These beams will adjust based on the type of scan you’re capturing, whether 2D or 3D, and will help ensure the patient is in the correct position to acquire a high-quality image.

In addition, here are a few specific cases of positioning errors and how to resolve them:

• Lower incisors are blurry. The most common panoramic error is having the patient’s chin tilted too far down. In this case, the roots of the lower incisors will be blurry, the mandible will be shaped like a V, the smile line will be exaggerated, the condyles will be at the top of the image, and the spine will form an arch or “gazebo” effect. If this happens, reposition the patient following the manufacturer’s guidelines.

• Back teeth look warped. If the back teeth appear wide on one side of the image and narrow on the other, this is a sign that the patient’s head was turned to one side during the scan. Reposition the patient following the manufacturer’s guidelines and instruct the patient to look straight ahead without tipping, tilting, or turning their head.

2D Image Quality

All of the positioning issues above may impact the image quality on your 2D pano scans. If you’ve reviewed these issues and you’re still having trouble, our Customer Help Desk has offered additional troubleshooting tips, below.

• Anterior teeth are blurry or incorrectly sized. If you notice that the anterior teeth are blurry, small, and narrow, and you can see the spine, the patient is likely biting too far forward on the bite stick. If the anterior teeth are blurry and wide with ghosting of the mandible and spine, the patient may be biting too far back on the bite stick.
  • In many cases, this issue can also be addressed by setting the canine laser alignment. Many doctors we work with use the default setting, but in the case the laser gets moved or bumped - the anterior area will be either elongated and blurry or squished and blurry. It’s a good idea to get into the routine of checking the patient size and the canine laser placement for each patient.

• Noticeable white opacities. White opacities in the image can be due to earrings, tongue bars, nose rings, or improperly placed lead aprons. Before stepping into the machine, make sure your patient removes all jewelry from the head and neck area, and that the lead apron is appropriately placed on the patient’s shoulders and back.

3D Image Quality

Positioning issues and machine settings can also impact the quality of your 3D images on a dental CBCT machine as well. When we get calls for issues with 3D image quality on a CBCT machine, the first question we’re typically asked is “Do I need a calibration”?

To help answer this question, see our tips below:

• The 3D image is blurry or the anterior points appear doubled or ghosted. This could be caused by patient movement or your unit needs calibration.
  • To check, take an image of your QAT phantom, calibration tool, or, if you cannot find these, a cup of pens will work. [You may need to reduce the kv/ma settings for this.]
  • By taking an image of an inanimate object, you can confirm if there is a movement issue. If this image looks good, then the movement of the patient has been causing the distortion. If the image quality is not improved, then it is likely a calibration issue.

Questions About Your CBCT Machine? Reach Out!

If you’re having issues with your dental CBCT machine, let us know. If you purchased from Renew Digital, we’ll be happy to get you the support you need to get you back up and running quickly. If your coverage includes our comprehensive warranty or extended warranty plan, we can also provide an onsite technician to support you if you're having an issue requiring service to your machine.

If you haven’t purchased through Renew Digital, but are looking to replace your equipment - there’s never been a better time to upgrade to CBCT.

We’ve been working with practices looking to upgrade their digital imaging equipment to CBCT for over 10 years. We help our customers save 30-50% off new list prices, with a wide selection of CBCT to choose from - including today’s most in-demand brands: i-CAT/DEXIS, Planmeca, Sirona, Carestream, Vatech, and more.

For added value, any X-ray or CBCT purchase from Renew Digital includes professional installation, on-site training, and a comprehensive parts and labor warranty. Once you start using your machine, you’ll have unlimited access to our Customer Help Desk - with extensive experience and knowledge in dental imaging.

For more information on finding the right cone beam system for you, reach out today by calling (888) 246-5611 or completing an online form. We’ll be happy to discuss your practice’s current and future imaging needs to help you find the best used dental equipment for your practice.