CBCT IMPLANTS SLEEP ORTHODONTICS GENERAL DENTISTRY ENDODONTICS

Benefits of Cone Beam Dental Machines

Chris Koch

Many dentists and dental specialists have come to realize the great benefits of having an in-office cone beam dental machine. Not only can it offer you more diagnostic options than standard 2D panoramic imaging, it can also enhance patient confidence and communication and increase treatment acceptance. Here are few of the top benefits of cone beam dental machines for both practitioners and patients alike.

For Practitioners

Reduced Radiation – Many of today’s modern cone beam dental machines are adjustable to collimate images to a variety of field of view sizes, limiting radiation to only the area of interest.

Short Scan Time – By capturing all 3D images in a single rotation, the total scan time is not much different from 2D panoramic X-ray. It also helps to reduce image artifacts from patient movement as well as total time spent scanning. This makes for a more efficient dental practice.

Accurate Images – High-resolution scans provide more accurate images and measurements, meaning more precise dental procedures and more predictable patient outcomes.

Detailed Images – A cone beam dental scan can reveal much more than a traditional 2D X-ray, including pathologies, infections, nerves, soft tissues, growths, musculature, and more. This helps practitioners to better see and treat dental conditions as well as develop more comprehensive treatment plans for a variety of treatments.

Bone Quality Assessment – Assessing bone quality is an important part of the evaluation especially for implant and other surgical cases, eliminating guesswork inherent with 2-dimensional imaging.

User-Friendly – Cone beam dental machines may seem complicated but are actually quite easy to learn. They are designed for any trained dentist or specialist to jump right in and get to work.

Interactive Display – With cone beam dental technology, you can demonstrate features in 3D that you can’t get with traditional 2D imaging. You have the ability to reorganize and rotate data, magnify areas of concern, annotate and trace anatomy, and share images with referrals and colleagues.

For Patients

Accurate Diagnosis – A cone beam dental scan can help differentiate between different types of tissue, therefore revealing anomalies that 2D scans can’t. This means there is a greater ability to diagnose issues more thoroughly at the initial evaluation, communicate issues to patients in a way that allows them to better visualize their dental conditions, and work towards a more successful treatment plan.

Reduced Radiation – Reducing the scan area to only the area of interest helps to minimize the patient’s exposure to radiation and put them at ease.

Non-Intrusive – With cone beam dental machines, 3D images are captured externally, scanning the entire head in one fast motion, eliminating the discomfort of intraoral imaging devices.

Lower Cost – When you don’t need to refer your patients to a third-party imaging center, you are able to save them time from visiting multiple clinics. Keeping patients ‘in house” often results in a higher rate of treatment acceptance.

Short Scan Time – Dental scans can make some patients extremely nervous, leading to fidgeting which causes imaging errors and retakes. With fast exposure times, you can reduce patient anxiety and have a more efficient visit.