If you are going to visit a periodontist, there is a small chance you will receive a CBCT scan in place of regular dental x-rays. Some of the top periodontists in the GTA are now using CBCT scans in their offices in order to take advantage of the new technology and all the extra benefits it can bring to diagnosing important issues and creating better treatment plans.

What makes a CBCT scanner such an important upgrade for periodontists and other dental professionals? Regular dental x-rays produce two dimensional images which provide a lot of valuable information about bone and tooth structure. CBCT scans are used to produce 3D imaging that is useful for visualizing important information about the mouth and surrounding areas such as the bone width, sinuses and nasal cavity. The resulting image that is available contains cross-sectional data that provides much more detailed information which is instrumental in diagnosis and detailed treatment.

A Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanner works in much the same way as a traditional CT scanner, but a CBCT scanner is much smaller in size. A CBCT scanner is small enough to fit in an outpatient office. The x-rays are directed in a beam that resembles a cone which converges the x-ray beams on a very specific area. The ability to significantly reduce the size of the scanning area along with the increased speed of the scans reduces the overall exposure to radiation for patients.

A CBCT scan is a fast procedure, but the amount of information it collects is vast. This information is then computed by a software program to produce a large number of high-quality images. A CBCT scanner can easily produce a number of 3D images to explicitly show important information pertaining to dental structures, nerve paths and bone. This type of highly detailed information is very helpful in the following areas:

• Assessing impacted teeth and planning surgical procedures to extract them.
• Assessing bone density in the jaw and determining if tooth implants are suitable. 3D images are also instrumental in determining the proper placement of implants.
• Properly diagnosing root fractures and lesions.

Despite the obvious advantages that a CBCT scanner provides for dental professionals, few periodontal offices in the GTA actually have an on-site CBCT scanner. The machines are cutting-edge and expensive. The machines also require specialized training in order to use them safely and to their full capacity.

Dr. Lloyd Hoffman is proud to offer a comfortable and patient-focused periodontal office in Richmond Hill with access to the latest cutting-edge equipment. This includes an on-site CBCT scanner to complement Dr. Hoffman’s 30 years of experience as a periodontist. Contact Dr. Hoffman today for all of your periodontal needs including CBCT scans in the GTA.