Cone Beam Computed Tomography

 

Cone Beam Computed Tomography

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) provides complete views of all oral and maxillofacial structures and allows our doctors to make accurate diagnoses and corrective treatment plans.

CBCT scanners have been available for craniofacial imaging since 1999 in Europe and more recently (2001) in the United States. The scanner uses a cone shaped x-ray beam rather than a conventional linear fan beam to provide images of the bony structures of the skull. Conventional medical CT scanners use a single row or a series (4, 8, 12, 32 and now 64) of solid state detectors paired with a fan shaped beam to capture the attenuated x-ray. Cone Beam CT scanners use a square 2-dimensional array of detectors to capture the cone shaped beam. As a result, the medical CT scanner provides a set of consecutive slices of the patient while the Cone Beam CT scanner provides a volume of data. Subsequently reconstruction software is applied on the cone beam CT volumetric data to produce a stack of 2D gray scale level images of the anatomy.

The compact size and relatively low radiation dosage of the Cone Beam CT scanner makes it ideally suited for imaging the craniofacial region, including dental structures. Your safety is of our greatest concern. With this in mind, we utilize the i-CAT CBCT Scanner. This scanner produces the least amount of radiation of any commercially available CBCT scanner. With the increasing accessibility of Cone Beam CT imaging, this modality is emerging as the imaging “standard of care” for the number of diagnostic assessments of the bony components of the face and for the more precise planning and placement of dental implants.

State-of-the-Art in Dental Imaging

Introduced in 1994, i-CAT launched Cone Beam technology in the dental industry and introduced dental professionals to the third dimension of patient imaging. The i-CAT has successfully pioneered Cone Beam 3-D dental imaging and formed a global network of i-CAT Cone Bean 3-D imaging centers.

i-CAT Benefits for the Patient:

• The i-CAT offers the highest level of surgical predictability resulting in successful surgical outcomes for patients
• Over ten times less radiation compared to a Medical CT
• A quick and easy 20 second scan producing the most anatomically accurate 3-D images of the mouth, face, and jaw
• An Open Environment scan increasing the patients comfort level
• Reduces surgery time
• The i-CAT is available to patients in their dentist office to avoid hospital visits and multiple appointments
• Within minutes of the i-CAT scan, dentists are able to offer patients an immediate virtual diagnosis and treatment plan – possibly all in one visit
• Dentists can easily share the 3-D data with patient’s restorative doctor