3D Cone Beam Many different forms of x-rays, scans, and tests are used in our surgery. We use all these to accurately identify the root cause of your oral issues. 3D cone beams are used by our oral surgeons to more accurately judge how to perform surgeries, to find the cause of issues that cannot be seen by the naked eye, and to see precisely the bone structure of the jaw and skull. Surf City Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery uses 3D cone beams on a day to day basis, and wants you to understand that they are very safe, and would never be used if they could cause you, as a patient, any harm. A 3D cone beam gets its name from the conical shaped beam that is emitted during the process, and from the rotating movement of the machine’s arm around your head, which allows us to capture an accurate, 3D scan of your dental cavity. Why Do I Need a 3D Cone Beam Scan?3D cone beam scans use more radiation than a normal x-ray, which means we will not use them unless necessary. Do not be alarmed by this fact, as they still exert one fifth to one tenth less radiation than a traditional CT scan, so they are perfectly safe, as long as they are done infrequently. We take your safety very seriously with all testing we perform. However, with this type of image, we can produce an accurate 3D image of your oral cavity, which has a number of applications. One application is for the planning stage of a procedure. We can use it to see impacted teeth, and how we could possibly resolve them. Plus, we can use it to see where to place dental implants to slot them in jawbone thick enough to hold them, and diagnose issues with the temporomandibular joint. This means a reduction in misdiagnosis, more accuracy when performing surgery, and more effective treatment. It can be used, for example, to see whether a root canal is suitable treatment for a tooth. Root canal treatment has a possibility of failure, and so our oral surgeons can tell whether it is worth doing, or if a patient needs more comprehensive treatment, saving them from getting an unnecessary surgery. How Is a 3D Cone Beam Scan Performed?The scan is a very straightforward procedure that takes less than 10 minutes. The machine can accommodate both patients sitting upright or lying down, and has the 3D scanner pass all the way round the head, while it takes images deep into your tissue. This sweeping motion allows it to pick up all angles of the head, and therefore create an accurate scan of the oral cavity in 3D. Before the scan, you will be asked to take off anything that could interfere with the scan. For example, dentures, glasses, and hearing aids could lead to interference. We will talk you through the procedure, to ensure that you feel comfortable with everything we do. Surf City Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery wants you to feel comfortable having a 3D cone beam scan performed, and know that it can really improve our knowledge of your oral problems. To book an appointment with us now, call us at 657-384-2787. |
