Cone beam CT is a 3D dental X-ray that builds a three-dimensional image of your teeth, jaw and nearby structures from a single scan. Redondo Beach Dental Group uses cone beam imaging at its office on Artesia Boulevard, a short drive from Torrance, Hermosa Beach and Manhattan Beach.
A 3D scan is not part of every visit, and it is not the right tool for every question. It uses more radiation than a regular dental X-ray, so it is worth knowing what it adds before you agree to one. To ask whether a scan applies to your situation, call (310) 542-6988.
What a Cone Beam Scan Shows
The scanner rotates around your head and collects X-ray data in a cone-shaped beam, and software rebuilds that data into a 3D image. Most dental X-rays are flat, two-dimensional pictures. The FDA notes that a 3D image gives depth information a flat image does not, which may help with diagnosis and treatment planning for certain conditions. Your dentist decides whether a scan is needed, and the scanner sits alongside the other dental technology the office uses for diagnosis and treatment planning.
The scan is also called CBCT, cone beam computed tomography, cone beam CT or a 3D dental scan. They all describe the same kind of imaging.
Treatments a 3D Scan May Help Plan
These are the situations in which our office may use cone beam imaging:
- Before a dental implant is placed, a 3D image can show the jawbone in three dimensions, including how much bone is present and where nearby nerves run. That helps your dentist choose where an implant goes before surgery starts.
- For a tooth with root canal problems, a scan may help your dentist find problems inside or around a tooth that a flat X-ray does not make clear, and plan root canal therapy around what the image shows.
- When jaw pain, clicking or limited opening raises questions about the joint, a scan may be used to look at the jaw joint as part of assessing TMJ treatment options.
- A scan may also be used to plan orthodontic treatment and to check how it is progressing.
When implants are planned with computer guidance, the 3D image feeds the planning software of a surgical navigation system, which uses the scan to map where each implant should sit before surgery.
Radiation: What the FDA Says
A cone beam scan uses X-rays, so it is worth understanding the trade-off. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, dental cone beam exams typically deliver more radiation than conventional dental X-ray exams, although the doses are generally lower than those of other CT exams. The amount varies a great deal by machine. A 2013 review in Imaging Science in Dentistry reported effective doses for cone beam units ranging from 19 to 1,073 microsieverts, depending on the detector, the field of view and the voxel size used for scanning.
The American Dental Association and the FDA recommend that dental X-ray exams, including cone beam CT, be taken only when necessary for the diagnosis or treatment of disease. The FDA also says the clinical benefit of a medically appropriate exam outweighs the small radiation risk, while efforts should still be made to minimize it. Concern is greater for younger patients, who are more sensitive to radiation.
The FDA suggests asking your provider these questions before any X-ray exam, and they apply here:
- What are the benefits and risks of this scan for me?
- Is the scan necessary, or is there an equally useful alternative that uses no or less radiation?
- Does the office use radiation-reduction techniques, such as size-based protocols for children?
The FDA also suggests keeping a record of your family’s imaging history. You can ask us these questions at any visit.
When a Regular X-Ray Is the Better Choice
For many questions a conventional dental X-ray is enough, and it uses less radiation. Routine checks for cavities between teeth are usually done with flat X-rays. A 3D scan makes sense when your dentist needs information a flat image cannot give. If a scan is suggested, it is reasonable to ask what question it will answer and whether a conventional X-ray could answer it instead.
Cost and Insurance
We do not publish a price for a cone beam scan. The cost depends on the area scanned and the reason for the scan, and it may be part of a larger treatment plan such as an implant. Ask us for an estimate before you book.
We accept PPO plans. Coverage for imaging varies from plan to plan, so ask us how your plan applies to this treatment. For costs your plan does not cover, we offer payment plans through Cherry, CareCredit and LendingClub, and an in-office plan for patients without insurance.
Who You Will See
Dr. Moshe Eizdi leads care at Redondo Beach Dental Group. He earned his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree at the University of Southern California, where he graduated with honors, and his work covers cosmetic and restorative dentistry, including implant restorations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a cone beam CT scan?
A cone beam CT scan is a dental imaging exam that uses a cone-shaped X-ray beam to build a three-dimensional image of the teeth, jaw and nearby structures. A scanner rotates around the head to collect the data, and software turns it into a 3D image.
What is a 3D X-ray for teeth called?
A 3D X-ray for teeth is called cone beam computed tomography, shortened to CBCT or cone beam CT. Patients also search for it as a 3D dental scan or a 3D mouth scan, and it is the same exam.
How much does a 3D dental X-ray cost?
The cost of a 3D dental X-ray depends on the area scanned and the reason for it, and it may be part of a larger treatment plan such as dental implants. Ask us for an estimate before you book.
Are 3D dental X-rays covered by insurance?
Insurance coverage for a 3D dental X-ray depends on your plan and on why the scan is needed. Your insurer can confirm what your plan covers, and you can ask us how your plan applies to this treatment before your appointment.
Is a 3D X-ray necessary for a root canal?
A 3D X-ray is not always necessary for a root canal. Many root canal questions can be answered with a conventional dental X-ray, and the ADA and FDA recommend a cone beam scan only when it is needed for diagnosis or treatment. Your dentist can tell you whether a scan would add useful information in your case.
Is a cone beam scan safe?
A cone beam scan uses X-rays, and the FDA says dental cone beam exams typically deliver more radiation than conventional dental X-rays but generally less than other CT exams. The FDA says the benefit of a medically appropriate exam outweighs the small radiation risk, and the ADA and FDA recommend taking one only when it is needed for diagnosis or treatment.
Can children have a cone beam scan?
Children can have cone beam scans, and ADA and FDA guidance is that any dental X-ray, including cone beam CT, should be taken only when needed for diagnosis or treatment. The FDA notes that concern about radiation is greater for younger patients because they are more sensitive to it. Parents can ask whether a scan is necessary, whether a conventional X-ray would answer the question, and whether the office uses radiation-reduction techniques for children.
Book a Consultation in Redondo Beach
Redondo Beach Dental Group is at 2511 Artesia Blvd, Redondo Beach, CA 90278. We are open Monday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Wednesday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Call (310) 542-6988 or request an appointment online to ask about a 3D scan.