CBCT: What Is It and How Is It Used in Dentistry? [Video Q&A]

When considering dental implants, the quality of your jawbone is essential information. Dental implants need a significant amount of bone structure to stabilize. However, not everyone has enough jawbone to support these titanium screws. After losing teeth, your jaw will gradually deteriorate due to a lack of stimulation. Dental implants replicate that stimulation, but many patients don’t have enough bone left to support them. During your free implant consultation, we’ll use a machine called a CBCT to take a 3D X-ray of your jaw. The image allows us to examine your jawbone and determine if you’re eligible for dental implants.

To start your dental implant journey, visit us in East Longmeadow, MA, for a free consultation!

What Is a CBCT?

CBCT stands for Cone-Beam Computed Tomography. This piece of innovative technology uses digital imaging to capture a 3D model of your jawbone. The image is incredibly detailed, allowing us to inspect your jaw closely and determine your eligibility for dental implants.

Before CBCTs, we used traditional X-rays. These images were not only less clear but also 2D, limiting the scope of what they could capture. With a 3D digital model, we can move your X-ray around and assess all angles of your jaw.

Additionally, CBCT X-rays use less radiation and are done faster than traditional CT scans, making them a better tool for implant dentistry.

How We Use a CBCT in Implant Dentistry

CBCTs allow us to assess your jawbone before beginning your implant treatment. This is an essential step in the consultation, as we will determine if you have enough bone to support a dental implant.

Fortunately, East Longmeadow Family Dental Center offers mini dental implants, which require less bone. In most cases, patients are eligible for mini implants without trouble. But if you need a traditional implant, you may need a bone graft to rebuild lost bone before we place any implants.

Once we determine that you’re ready for dental implant treatment, we use your 3D scan to plan where we’ll place your implants.

Dental implants reach far into your bone, which means we need to be careful to avoid important anatomical structures. Obstacles like nerves and your sinuses can get in the way of implant placement. But with the help of a CBCT scan, we plan around these features to ensure a more successful implant placement!

With a careful plan in place, we’ll schedule your placement appointment. There, we use surgical guides, modeled after the treatment plan we made during your consultation. All of the information that the CBCT provides us is integral to your implant placement, making it one of the most important aspects of dental implant treatment.

Understanding the Dental Implant Process

After we gather all the information we need from the CBCT, the real work begins. At East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we make implant treatment as simple as possible.

During your free consultation, we will determine what type of implant suits your smile. But in most cases, we’ll use a mini dental implant because of its minimally invasive procedure.

1. We start with a small pilot hole that goes through your gums and into your jawbone. This opening is made gently to avoid disturbing the gum and bone tissue around your future implant.
2. Then, we carefully screw the implant into place. These implants are small and only one piece, allowing us to secure them in your jaw in a single appointment.
3. Once inside your jawbone, mini implants immediately begin to stabilize. While it will take a few weeks for your implants to fully integrate with your bone, we’ll place a functional (but temporary) restoration on top while you wait.
4. Finally, after a few weeks of healing, your implants will be strong enough to support your final restoration. With an implant-supported crown, bridge, or denture in place, you can enjoy the food you love without hesitation.

While not everyone will be eligible for mini implants, we find that most patients are. But to learn if you’re eligible, you’ll need a 3D digital CBCT X-ray before treatment!

Start Your Implant Journey in East Longmeadow, MA

Dental implants rely on a strong jawbone for a foundation. But to understand the quality of your jaw, we must take a CBCT scan! During your free consultation with us at East Longmeadow Family Dental Center, we will take a digital X-ray of your jaw and determine your eligibility for dental implants. In most cases, we find that patients are eligible for mini dental implants. After designing your treatment plan, we will use a minimally invasive procedure to place your implants and restore your smile.

Book your free consultation today to learn if you’re a good candidate for dental implant treatment.

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