What do the best dentists in the country use 3D Digital Imaging? The 3-D images allow holistic dentists, oral disease specialists and advanced dental implant specialists to collect the needed and highly valuable diagnostic information used to plan and deliver dental diagnosis and dental surgery.  Less than 5% of the dentists in the USA have 3D Conebeam Digital imaging available in their office, and mostly outsource the diagnostics to mobile imaging centers or oral surgery specialists. Important to Note: Endodontists DO NOT take full 3D CBCT scans, they are typically single tooth images and have no diagnostic value to holistic dentists or dental implant specialists like Dr Litano. Natural Dentistry has the latest Conebeam 3D CBCT scan that not only provides full sinus, airway, TMJ and double jaw analysis but also is the only ultra low dose technology found in 3D Conebeam market. Less than 1% of all dentists in the USA have the Plan Meca Ultra-Low Dose 3D Imagining high-tech equipment that was specifically purchased for its high-quality scans with decreased radiation exposure to patients.

Do 3D Conebeam Scans identifies root canal infections? Yes, a 3D Dental Jaw Scan is one of the only tools to see a root canal infection that is just starting or has been small and unable to be identified by a typical dental xray.

Can 3D CBCT Scan diagnose dental cavitations? Yes, the Dental CBCT scan is the only diagnostic method to be able to identify dental cavitation infections in the jaw otherwise also diagnosed as fatty degenerative osteonecrosis (“FDOJ”) or Ischemic Bone Disease (“IBD”). A 3D CBCT scan used by holistic dentists is the standard of care and the only dependable diagnostic tool to diagnose bone abnormalities in the jaw bone. Regular 2D Panoramic imaging or regular Xrays cannot display or show dental cavitation abnormalities.

Do I need a Conebeam Scan for Dental Implants? Yes, absolutely. If you see a dentist who is willing to place dental implants without a 3D Scan (whether only based on an x-ray or a 2D pano) RUN don’t walk away from that office. If they don’t use a 3D Scan, they can’t see where your nerves are potentially placing the implants right into the nerve or right on top of the nerve and causing debilitating parasthesia. If a dentist doesn’t use a Conebeam they cannot see how close to the nerve the tooth that needs to be extracted is and therefore cause nerve damage with a simple extraction. If a dentist doesn’t use a CBCT Scan to treatment plant the surgery placement of the dental implant, he could place the dental implant in a poor position or too close to a natural tooth, causing the natural tooth to die and the implant to fail. The entire purpose of using a CBCT scan is its SAFER, and creates predictable clinical results increasing rates of success of the surgery and drastically decreasing complications. DO NOT listen to a dentist that tells you they have been placing implants and pulling teeth for 30 years without any 3D CBCT scan (they simply don’t know how to interpret the 3D scans, are stuck in their outdated ways and don’t want to (or can’t afford to) invest $100,000+ on cutting edge equipment.)

Should I be worried about the 3D CBCT Conebeam Scan’s radiation? Is the Dental CT scan like a hospital CT Scan? No, you should NOT be worried. The amount of exposure a Dental CBCT scan exposes a patient to is less than 90% of a hospital-based CAT scan and 70% less than a regular chest x-ray done in the hospital. The exposure level is slightly more than 4 bitewings, or equivalent to all school full mouth series Xrays (which our office does not support and does not take – they are needless exposure and radiation for the patient!) Even more good news for you is our scans are on average 10 seconds, not require a lead apron or any protective gear, do not throw off scatter radiation and do not require a separate or sealed space separated from our Natural Dentistry teammates – that’s how safe the 3D CBCT Ultra-Low Dose scan is! Less than 1% of all dentist in the USA have Ultra-Low Dose 3D Imagine high tech equipment like Natural Dentistry – patients from all over the country fly to our office specifically for 2nd and 3rd opinions to have the 3D Conebeam scan done by Dr. May and interpreted by Dr. May at Natural Dentistry. Bottom line is this, “Why would anyone take a 2D image with this amount of exposure when they can get a 3D image with excellent diagnostic quality at an ultra-low dose of radiation?”

Why is the Low Dose Radiation 3D Digital Imagine CT/Conebeam Scan better than traditional 3D and 2D CT scans?

• Offers advanced 3D imaging within the practice
• Allows doctors to visualize anatomy that can not be diagnosed externally or in 2-dimensional images
• Safer – delivers less radiation to the patient than traditional CT scans; AMA ALARA compliant
• Open stand-up environment ensures patient comfort (not a closed laydown MRI style machine)
• Thorough diagnostic information (optimum view of the critical anatomy of all oral and maxillofacial structures)
• More precise treatment planning – confirm infections/disease process that necessitate treatment
• More predictable treatment outcomes and increases accuracy of diagnosis
• Reduces the length and cost of therapy
• Delivers quicker and easier image acquisition – scans takes only 20 seconds.