Roughly 5 million dental implants are placed each year at a 95% success rate. Naturally, when it comes to something as important as new teeth, then you don’t want to leave anything to chance, and that means choosing a dentist who uses the most advanced technology available to plan implant surgery. A CT/cone beam scanner is a prime example of technology that every implant dentist should have. If you’re getting dental implants in North Grafton soon, read on to learn why a cone beam scanner should absolutely be part of the process.
What is a CT/Cone Beam Scanner?
A CT/cone beam scanner is a device that can capture more information about your mouth than any other device in the office. As useful as digital X-rays are, they can only capture one angle of the teeth at a time. A cone beam scanner, on the other hand, creates a panoramic, three-dimensional image of the entire oral cavity. That means not only does it show your teeth, but it also gives us a detailed look at your jaw, skull, sinuses, and facial nerves. This type of scan is primarily used to plan different types of oral surgery, as opposed to traditional two-dimensional X-rays that are mainly used to evaluate oral health.
How Does a Cone Beam Scanner Work?
A cone-shaped X-ray beam is emitted by the scanner. Your dentist will move the beam around your head in order to take 150 or more pictures of the oral cavity. All of these images are then combined into a single three-dimensional model. Note that a CT/cone beam scanner exposes patients to less radiation compared to conventional CT.
How Can a Cone Beam Scanner Help with Dental Implants?
Dental implant placement is considered an advanced type of oral surgery, and as such it requires very careful, extensive planning. For example, if there are nerves or other oral structures that could be potentially damaged or otherwise infected during implant placement, then they need to be accounted for well in advance. A cone beam scanner gives your implant dentist in North Grafton a complete anatomical picture of your oral cavity, which in turn gives you a higher rate of success during the implant surgery. The information provided by the scans also makes it possible to predict how long it will take for the implant posts to fuse with the existing bone tissue.
No other form of tooth replacement matches the benefits of dental implants. To get the absolute most out of them, it’s important to make sure that you’re receiving the best treatment possible during the placement procedure. When you call your dentist to ask for a dental implant consultation, take the time to learn more about the technology they use for the surgery.
About the Author
Dr. Tina Theroux has been in the oral healthcare field for nearly 25 years. She loves the immediate gratification that dentistry provides for her patients once they’ve had their smiles improved. She pursues continuing education courses in a variety of treatments, including dental implant placement. Her practice, Theroux Dental Associates, boasts a CT/cone beam scanner for advanced procedures. To schedule a dental implant consultation with Dr. Theroux, visit her website or call (508) 839-2262.