What
is a CT Dental Scan? |
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CT Dental Scan uses advanced computer programs analyze
an X-ray study called a CT scan. By providing detailed two-dimensional
and three-dimensional images, CT Dental Scans enable your dentist
to select the best location for your implants
and plan the details of your surgery with pinpoint accuracy, well
before the operation. |
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How
does a CT Dental Scan differ from conventional X-rays? |
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Routine dental x-rays are two-dimensional;
they only show the location of your teeth and the height of the
bone. These X-rays are often distorted, and they cannot depict
the thickness of your jawbone.
A CT Dental Scan, on the other hand, is distortion free. It illustrates
the actual make-up of the bone and provides three-dimensional and
cross-sectional views of your jaws. The life-sized images allow
us to accurately measure the amount of bone that is available for
implants. |
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So
why do I need such a specialized X-ray? |
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CT Dental Scans help us to determine if you are a good candidate
for implant surgery or one of our other services.
This can save you an unnecessary operation. Because the study tells
us a lot more than conventional x-rays, it helps us better prepare
for your surgery. A CT Dental Scan will show us the exact location
of anatomical structures, the contours of the jaw bone, and the
best sites for your implants before surgery.
This means that there are virtually no surprises
when we perform your surgery. That means less operating
time, and fewer complications for you. |
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Do
I need to do anything special? What will happen to me during
the CT scan? |
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You do not need to prepare for the CT scan. You may be asked
to remove any jewelry from your head and neck, so that it does
not interfere with the study. Once in the examination room, all
that you have to do is to rest face up on the CT scanner bed. Your
head will be comfortably cushioned on a padded cradle, and a Velcro
strap will hold your head so that it remains still.
Keeping still for those few seconds that the scan takes is very important so
that clear pictures are obtained. In just seconds you will be finished. |
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What
about the radiation aspects? |
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The radiation dose received varies from patient to patient
but is typically in the range of 0.1 to 0.5 mSv. To put this in perspective,
everyone in the country receives about 2.2 mSv annually from natural background
radiation, so a CT Dental Scan corresponds to less than an additional 3 months
of background radiation. The background radiation is less for our Cone-Beam
compared to other Spiral CT Scanners. |
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So
where do I go? |
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Right in our office! Just contact us
and make an appointment that is convenient for you. |
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