Dentomaxillofacial cone beam computed tomography (CBCT)
Dental cone beam CT (3D dental scan) in Casablanca
Dental cone beam CT is an X-ray exam, performed on a dedicated machine (the dental CT scan is its equivalent on a CT scanner), that reconstructs the teeth, the jawbone and nearby structures in three dimensions. Unlike a panoramic X-ray, it makes it possible to measure the thickness and height of the bone and to locate the jaw nerve precisely. It is mostly requested by the dentist or the implant specialist before placing an implant, a difficult extraction or a complex root canal treatment.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
The exam takes about 5 minutes, including positioning; the scan itself takes only a few seconds.
Report turnaround
Report within 24 hours. In an emergency, during opening hours, the report is handed over immediately.
Equipment
Planmeca
When is this exam needed?
- Assessment before placing one or more dental implants.
- Impacted wisdom tooth close to the jaw nerve, before it is extracted.
- Difficult root canal treatment, looking for a crack or an extra canal.
- Cyst or lesion of the jawbone found on an X-ray.
- Impacted or misplaced tooth in a teenager, for example a canine, before orthodontic treatment.
- Assessment before a bone graft or a sinus lift.
How the exam is done
You remove jewelry, glasses, hearing aids, mouth piercings and removable dentures. Depending on the machine, you stand or sit, with your head held by a forehead rest and a chin rest, sometimes biting on a small block. The radiographer sets the field to the requested area: one jaw, both jaws, or only a few teeth.
During the scan, the arm of the machine rotates once around your head. Stay completely still, without swallowing or talking, because the slightest movement blurs the images. The exam is painless. The images are then reconstructed by computer, as slices and in three dimensions, and analyzed by the radiologist.
Preparation
- Bring the dentist's prescription specifying the teeth or area to be examined: it determines the field of the exam.
- Before the exam, remove removable dentures, facial jewelry and tongue piercings.
- If your dentist has given you a radiographic guide (a tray with markers), bring it: you will wear it during the scan.
Fasting
No fasting: eat and drink normally before the exam, which requires no digestive preparation.
Contrast injection
No injection is given: cone beam CT shows the teeth and the jawbone without a contrast agent.
Contraindications and precautions
- Current or possible pregnancy: as a precaution, please tell us; the dentist and the radiologist decide whether it is better to postpone the exam.
- Unable to stay still, even for a few seconds: let the team know, positioning can be adapted.
- Metal crowns, implants or amalgam fillings: they do not prevent the exam but create streaks on the image, which the radiologist takes into account.
- Children: the exam is reserved for situations where a panoramic X-ray is not enough, with the field limited to the area needed.
Documents to bring
- Prescription specifying the area or teeth to be examined
- Previous panoramic X-ray or cone beam CT
- Radiographic guide provided by the dentist, if applicable
- Insurance or mutual insurance fund card
Price and insurance coverage
The center accepts coverage from insurance companies and the main mutual insurance funds. You submit the coverage request to your insurer or fund yourself. For AtlantaSanad and Sanlam, the center takes care of it.
No prices are shown on this site: Kenza gives you the exact price on WhatsApp, along with the coverage procedure for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between cone beam CT and a panoramic X-ray?
A panoramic X-ray gives a single flat image of both jaws. Cone beam CT provides a three-dimensional volume that can be sliced in any direction: it measures the bone and locates the nerve, which a panoramic X-ray cannot do. The dentist often starts with a panoramic X-ray, then requests a cone beam CT if needed.
Is cone beam CT the same as a medical CT scan?
Both give three-dimensional images, but cone beam CT uses a machine dedicated to the head, which rotates only once around you while you sit or stand. For the teeth and jaws, it generally delivers less X-ray radiation than a medical CT scan. Your dentist specifies on the prescription which exam they want.
Why does the prescription specify one or two jaws?
The field of the exam is limited to the area needed: a single jaw, or both if the treatment involves both. A smaller field reduces the X-ray dose and gives finer images. That is why the prescription must state the teeth or region to be examined.
How does my dentist receive the images?
The radiologist analyzes the volume and writes a report, which is provided together with the images. If your dentist or implant specialist plans the implants with software, tell the reception desk: the format in which the images are provided takes this into account.