Technology is so important for us at Pinnacle Peak Family Dentistry. By using technology in our office, we can ensure the best care for your oral health care needs. For this reason we offer cone-beam 3D imaging in the comfort of our office in North Scottsdale.
What is the cone beam 3D?
Cone beam 3D imaging is a recent development that helps dentists see clear, detailed, three dimensional images of your teeth. It also helps us to see the bones and soft tissues that surround them.
The reason it is called a cone-beam is because the x-ray beam is shaped like a cone. This is compared to traditional CT scans that use fan shaped x-ray beams instead. Because of the cone-shaped beam, it takes nearly 600 “slices” of information about your mouth. From there, special software assembles all of this into 3D views.
How does the cone beam work?
These images are more helpful than traditional x-rays because they can be moved around to see your tooth and bone structures from every angle. This is particularly helpful for seeing how close wisdom teeth are to the nerves and arteries in your jaw. It can also help to see precisely how much bone is present to support an implant.
Dr. Sara might take a 3D image of your teeth and tissues for the following reasons:
- Placement of implants.
- Determining if a root canal is your best treatment option.
- Planning for extractions, especially for impacted teeth.
- Evaluation of your sinuses.
- Identifying sleep apnea.
- Fractures.
- Diagnosing TMJ issues.
- Understanding undiagnosed pain.
Not everyone will need a Cone Beam 3D image because they are not a substitution for traditional x-rays. These are only used when a diagnostic tool is medically necessary.
Talk to Dr. Sara at Pinnacle Peak Family Dentistry to learn more about cone-beam 3D imagery and how it might help improve your diagnosis.
