Dental CT: X-Ray and CBCT Imaging, Digital Diagnostics

What is CBCT?

Cone Beam CT (CBCT) stands for cone beam computed tomography, a non-invasive imaging technique used in dentistry. During the procedure, the CT scanner emits a cone-shaped X-ray beam, capturing a series of two-dimensional images from various angles around the patient’s head. These images are then reconstructed to create a three-dimensional view of the oral and maxillofacial structures, including teeth, bone, nerves, and soft tissues. This comprehensive visualization allows for more accurate diagnosis and precise treatment planning.

Traditional panoramic X-rays can produce image distortions, making evaluation more challenging. In contrast, a dental CT scanner provides a proportionally accurate, distortion-free, three-dimensional image that can be viewed from multiple angles. It also reveals not only the quantity but also the quality of the bone. Additionally, CBCT exposes patients to lower radiation levels, as these devices do not emit radiation continuously like conventional dental CT scanners. Instead, CBCT operates with minimal radiation dose, ensuring a safer imaging process.

What are the advantages of CBCT over traditional two-dimensional panoramic X-rays?

Traditional panoramic X-rays distort different areas of the image to varying degrees, depending on the equipment used. Additionally, all anatomical structures positioned between the detector and the X-ray source are superimposed onto the image. This can obscure certain details or make them appear blurry and undefined. These overlapping structures significantly complicate the interpretation of the radiograph.

This advanced imaging technique allows for a true-to-scale (1:1) 3D representation of the examined area without superimposition, viewable from multiple angles. Additionally, it provides valuable information not only about bone quantity but also about bone quality.

Why is CBCT better than medical CT?

CBCT imaging exposes the patient to minimal radiation compared to conventional medical CT scans, which are used for examining various body regions such as the spine or skull. The radiation dose from CBCT is equivalent to that of standard dental imaging techniques and is only about 1% of the dose from medical CT. Additionally, while a medical CT scan takes several minutes, CBCT scanning is completed in just 20–40 seconds.

How is a CBCT scan performed?

The CBCT device consists of a computer, an X-ray source, and a detector positioned opposite it. Depending on the settings, it performs a 360˚ rotation around the patient’s head in 10-40 seconds, similar to the function of panoramic X-ray machines. In contrast to traditional CT scanners, where imaging occurs layer by layer during the 360˚ rotation, the CBCT uses a cone-shaped X-ray beam to create a series of two-dimensional images, from which it constructs a three-dimensional database. It does not expose the patient continuously like traditional CT scanners; instead, it captures images at specific angles. This results in a significantly lower radiation dose to the patient, which is of great importance.

The DEXIS OP 3D LX dental CT machine: a new level in dental imaging

This 3D technology-based multimodal imaging platform covers the full spectrum of dental imaging needs, from endodontics to the most complex implant cases.

This next-generation system offers a flexible field of view (FOV), allowing for a variety of scans: from partial scans of 3-4 teeth (5 x 5 cm) to a full-face CBCT scan (15 x 20 cm), which currently represents the largest field of view available with the DEXIS OP 3D.

The 15×20 cm full-face scan is taken in a single exposure, not by stitching two images together, resulting in a lower radiation dose.

3D imaging options with the DEXIS OP 3D LX

The most cutting-edge dental CT in Budapest, at Uniklinik

Our radiology center uses the state-of-the-art DEXIS OP 3D LX system, which incorporates AI technology for capturing images. Its innovative SMARTVIEW feature simplifies and enhances image acquisition, making the process more efficient.

Contact us by phone or request a consultation via our booking form so we can provide you with the best and most professional care. At our practice, we offer the latest treatments in aesthetic dentistry, from smile design to tartar removal.

Our dental clinic is equipped with its own X-ray and CT lab, allowing us to perform all necessary imaging for precise diagnosis, ranging from simple X-rays to panoramic X-rays and 3D CT scans.