Computed tomography of the jaws (dental CT scan)
Dental CT scan (dentascanner) in Casablanca
The dental CT scan (dentascanner) is a CT scan of the jaws. Its slices, obtained with X-rays, are reconstructed into a panoramic view and cross-sectional slices. They help the dentist or surgeon measure the bone and locate the jaw nerve. It is also simply called a dental scan. The prescription states whether it covers the upper jaw, the lower jaw or both, in order to limit the exposed area.
Duration, report and equipment
Duration
The exam usually takes 5 to 10 minutes.
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 dental implants.
- Impacted tooth close to the nerve or a sinus.
- Cyst or other lesion of the jawbone.
- Sinus infection suspected to be of dental origin.
- Planning a bone graft or a sinus lift.
How the exam is done
When you arrive, you remove your glasses, facial jewelry and removable dentures. You lie on your back, with your head resting in a holder. A bite block or cotton rolls may be used to separate your teeth. If your dentist has given you a marker tray, it is placed in your mouth at this point.
You stay still, without swallowing, while you pass through the ring, which takes a few seconds. The exam is painless. The table moves slowly through a wide, open ring, which usually reassures people who are afraid of enclosed spaces. The radiologist then checks the images and prepares the reconstructions your dentist needs.
Preparation
- Remove glasses, removable dentures, facial jewelry and mouth piercings.
- Bring the marker tray (radiographic guide) provided by your dentist, if you have one.
- Check that the prescription specifies which jaw or jaws are to be examined.
Fasting
No fasting is needed. Drink normally.
Contrast injection
The dental CT scan is done without a contrast agent.
Contraindications and precautions
- Current or possible pregnancy: you must tell us before the exam. A CT scan uses X-rays: it is performed during pregnancy only if it is essential.
- Difficulty staying still: please tell us before the exam.
- Facial jewelry, piercings and removable dentures: to be removed, as metal blurs the slices.
- Fear of enclosed spaces: talk to the team about it; the machine stays open and you are not enclosed.
Documents to bring
- Prescription specifying one or both jaws
- Previous panoramic X-ray or other dental X-rays
- 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
How is it different from a cone beam CT?
Both give three-dimensional images. The dental CT scan is done lying down, on a medical CT scanner; the cone beam CT, sitting or standing.
One or both jaws: what difference does it make?
The field is limited to the area specified on the prescription: examining only one jaw reduces the region exposed to X-rays.
Is the X-ray dose high?
The dose is limited and adapted to the jaws being examined. Tell us about any pregnancy, even if uncertain, before you come.
Do my crowns and implants interfere with the exam?
They stay in place and do not prevent the exam. They may create streaks on some slices, which the radiologist takes into account.
Does a dental CT scan give 3D images?
Yes. From the slices, the radiologist computes 3D views and panoramic reconstructions, which the dentist uses to plan treatment or implant placement.