Endodontic practices heavily rely on technology. Technology helps influence the healthcare industry in being able to provide more advanced treatments that are more accurate and safer to execute. One of the biggest pieces of technology to help influence dentistry is the use of CBCT. CBCT, also known as cone beam computerized technology, is crucial for performing treatments because it provides dentists with significant advantages not found in other forms of diagnosis. As a vital part of the diagnosis and treatment process, CBCT technology helps many patients receive the care they need, all the while reducing the risk of failure. But how does CBCT technology work? In today’s article, we’ll be going over how CBCT works and how it helps today’s endodontists with their procedures.
The History and Roles of CBCT At The Dentist
For the longest time, x-rays and radiographs have been the standard forms of imaging available for getting detailed looks into the teeth, gums, and other oral areas. These forms of technology have helped diagnose diseases and treat them effectively and have become a standard part of everyday practices because of their affordability. For patients, x-rays and radiographs are part of their standard procedures during the diagnosis process, and as our technology improves over time, so do our methods. But in recent years, x-rays and radiographs have not been able to provide accurate images, and because of the limited data they provide, it now leads to a higher chance of misdiagnosis and failed treatments.
Because of the higher demand for high-tech solutions in dentistry, CBCT technology attempts to resolve that by producing higher-quality images. However, these images are also 3D, meaning that dentists can get 3D rendered images of a single tooth and see every aspect of the tooth that could potentially be missed with x-rays and radiographs. CBCT technology works through a cone-mounted device, and through this device, it takes over 600 images while transitioning around the patient’s head and then renders those images through processing software to create a complete image. This process can help dentists:
- Detect conditions affecting the orofacial area, such as oral cancer
- Can offer precise measurements of the jawline’s dimensions
- Identify problems with nerves, canals, sinuses, and nasal structures
- Identify the precise areas of tooth infection
- Provide greater ability to see existing dental problems in better detail
- Allow use of images as a guide to navigating the canals during dental care procedures
CBCT technology has helped provide greater success in the office, but this method also provides greater benefits for patients as well. Patients with sensitivities to radiation due to the onset of chemotherapy or radiation treatment can use CBCT technology as an alternative diagnostics method. Not only that, patients are able to get better treatment results for complex dental problems and gain more options for treatment. The results of CBCT technology are astounding for both patients and dentists, but for endodontists looking to add CBCT technology to their practices, CBCT technology brings out a lot of implications for how practices are run and how diagnostics are performed, along with other factors that affect the overall success of endodontic practices.
CBCT Technology: What Dental Conditions Can It Treat?
It’s essential to understand the capabilities that CBCT technology can bring, and for endodontists starting new practices, this type of technology can be a hefty but worthwhile investment. CBCT technology is able to provide detailed images of the patient’s bone structure, muscles, and tissue structure and even provide images of the nerve endings throughout the teeth and gums. Because of the high level of detail, CBCT is typically used in cases where there are complex dental problems present. While many general dentists can use CBCT technology, many areas of specialty can highly benefit from CBCT due to the areas of focus needed to look at the oral structures affected and diagnose more complex diseases.
Patients with complex cases can be better treated with CBCT technology, but it depends on the affected areas, the patient’s medical history, and other various factors to be able to determine how CBCT can be used. To best understand how CBCT technology can be used, below can be found a list of examples of tooth cases and how they’re resolved with CBCT:
- Locating Dental Pathology: For internal oral diseases such as periodontal disease and dental abscesses, finding the root cause of the disease can be better performed overall through CBCT technology. CBCT technology can better determine the pathology of certain diseases and thus can further direct dentists in this position to treat the ailment without the higher risk of failure. From there, the pathology can be rooted out with treatments such as root scaling, antibiotics, and deep root canal cleanings.
- Dental Implant Accuracy: Patients requiring implants and are experiencing issues with their jawline formation or nasal cavities would need more accurate alignments for their implants. In these cases where implants are recommended, CBCT technology can develop pictures of the oral cavities, including the areas of missing teeth, to detect any signs of abnormalcy within the jawline structures and assist in the implant process.
- Obscure Root Canals: Patients requiring root canals can sometimes have misshapen root channels that traditional x-rays cannot observe. Some canals, such as the MB2 canal, are considered one of the most neglected and often missed canals by endodontists because of how obscure it appears on traditional scans. CBCT technology can eliminate the possibility by formulating 3D images of the root canals, which can help dentists better identify the root canal areas and prevent the onset of reinfection within the pulp.
- Measuring Jaw Tumors: In rarer cases, patients experiencing benign or malignant cancerous tumors require extreme amounts of accuracy to be able to determine the severity of the tumor in relation to the remaining oral structures. CBCT technology in these cases can also be used to diagnose the size, location, and other internal factors of the tumor, which can then be used to diagnose and treat it with the best options available.
CBCT has allowed the dental industry to make excellent strides in improving treatments by clearly mapping the dental areas. CBCT technology is considered one of the latest advancements in dentistry to date, and for patients wishing to learn more about these types of procedures, the best place to go is to speak with your dentist or endodontist for more information.
