Dental CAT Scan

What is a dental CAT scan?

A dental CAT scan, or CT scan, uses specialized technology to create 3D images of your mouth. This provides the doctors at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC with valuable information about your mouth’s anatomy. It shows all of your dental structures, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and bone.

A traditional X-ray can tell your doctor about the height and contour of your jaw bone, but it doesn’t help when he needs to know more about your bone’s width and density. A dental CAT scan tells the doctors exactly how much bone you have and the location of your alveolar nerve.

Why would I need a dental CAT scan?

The team at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC will order a dental CAT scan in several different cases. A CAT scan improves precision if you are getting a dental implant to replace a missing tooth and may need bone grafting.

If you’ve had a complication with a root canal or if your doctor suspects you need a root canal treatment, he recommends a CT scan to give him information to provide you with the best treatment.

Patients who may have sleep apnea, trouble sleeping, or snore also benefit from a dental CAT scan.

The doctors may recommend a dental CAT scan before your wisdom tooth removal to locate nerves and avoid complications.

What information do you get from a dental CAT scan?

A dental CAT helps the team at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC understand the exact shape and dimensions, which is essential to dental implant placement. A dental CAT scan gives information about the source of any infection and what treatments can help heal it.

A dental CAT scan is also used to diagnose abnormal lesions that may be associated with bone cancer, cysts, or tumors.

What happens during a dental CAT scan?

When you come for a dental CAT scan, wear loose-fitting clothes without zippers or other metal. You can’t have friends, family, or children with you during your scan. If the doctors give you an appliance to wear during your scan, ensure you bring it with you. 

You place your head in the device and place your chin on the chin rest. The device moves around your head in a 360-degree rotation to capture multiple images from different angles. The whole procedure lasts less than 15 minutes.

If you need a dental CAT scan, call the Midtown West office of Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC today or use the online tool to schedule a visit.