The i-CAT Cone Beam 3-D Dental CT Scanner
 We use what the manufacturers claim is the most accurate Cone Beam 3D Scanner available worldwide today. This produces a high resolution image set to an accuracy of 0.1mm, using considerably less radiation than conventional "hospital" scanners.
Why have CT scans?
In addition to the need for a CT Scan for the production of a Surgical Drilling Guide for the precise placement of dental implants, CT scans can help look for signs of inflammation, disease or cancer and monitor many other health conditions and can also detect vertical teeth fractures that may be undetected by conventional OPG’s.
Permanent dental implants offer a long lasting alternative to removable dentures, but the procedure demands detailed planning. Pre-operative CT Scanning allows an accurate assessment of bone thickness and density at potential implant positions, and helps the implantologist to avoid the nerves. Computed tomography (CT) scans have become the norm for pre-implant assessment, because the non-distorted images are suitable for exact measurement, and the bone density can be estimated directly from the CT numbers.
For many years the main disadvantage of CT was the relatively high radiation dose, but early studies were based on older equipment. Significant improvements in CT Scanner design, detector sensitivity and beam collimation have now taken place.
What is a CT scan?
Computed Tomography is a radiographic examination that uses advanced X-ray technology to create multiple images of sections of the region being examined. These "slices" can be reformatted to create new "cross-sectional" or 3D images.
Ordinary dental X-rays are limited to visualisation in 2D; yet so often diagnosis and planning requires a more complete understanding of a complex 3D anatomy. CT examinations provide a wealth of 3D information which may be used when planning for Dental Implants, Surgical Extractions, Maxillofacial Surgery and advanced dental restorative procedures.
The image data may be simply viewed on screen, or alternatively sent by more sophisticated software solutions for specialist planning for dental implants, leading to minimal invasive surgery.
What's involved?
Computerised tomography (CT) uses X-ray equipment and a computer to create detailed images (scans) of teeth, bones and soft tissue including the brain. The images are black, white and grey and can be seen in three dimensions. The images are either stored in a digital format and shown on a computer screen or burnt onto a CD.
What the patient can expect
A radiographer will operate the scanning equipment. The referring dentist must inform our reception about any medicines the patient is taking and if the patient has any allergies, glaucoma or heart disease.
CT scans are not recommended for pregnant women, unless there is an urgent medical reason, so dentists must find out in advance if a patient could be pregnant.
The radiographer will explain what is involved with the examination and ensure that the patient is happy to proceed with the CT scan.
The procedure can take from 10 to 30 minutes depending on the examination.
For dental and head scans, patients will be asked to remove contact lenses, dentures, hair clips, hearing aids, necklaces, ear-rings and other jewellery.
It can take several minutes for each image to be formed, and it's important to remain very still during the process.
Further information
- The Royal College of Radiologists
020 7636 4432 www.rcr.ac.uk 0808 808 1000
Patients from the following towns have had Dental CT Scans -
St Ives Penzance Camborne Redruth Truro Falmouth Newquay Plymouth Tavistock Exeter Barnstable Torquay Paignton Brixham Taunton Bridgwater Yeovil Weston-Sper-Mare Bristol Bath Cardiff Swansea Swindon Reading Dorchester Bounemouth Poole Southampton Portsmouth Salisbury Gloucester Cheltenham London Birmingham Oxford
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