Cone Beam CT Scan (CBCT)

Dental Technology Silver Spring, MD | Miles Of Smiles Implant Dentistry

The detailed diagnostic images that CBCT entails have made it a critical tool for many zirconia dental implant specialists. However, it would be best if you measured the medical benefits with the (small) potential risks of the treatment. Miles of Smiles is the first dental practice in the eastern United States to acquire a Cone Beam CT (CBCT) Scanner and Dr. Sammy Noumbissi is the first generation of dental implantologists to be trained with a CBCT Scanner. Dr. Noumbissi has been using the CBCT Scanner for successful zirconia dental implant placements since 2007.

How Does Cone Beam CT Works?

We all know that X-rays, like visible light, are a form of energy on the electromagnetic spectrum. So, just as light makes an image on photographic film (or a digital camera sensor), X-rays can also form an image. The difference is that X-rays can penetrate bone and soft tissue and reveal its hidden structure by varying absorption degrees. Furthermore, in other words, they form a grayscale picture of what is underneath the surface. But, again, conventional X-rays are limited: Like a still-life picture, they show only one perspective on the scene.

Now imagine a “flip book” — a small book made-up of slightly different pictures. When you swiftly fan through it, you may see an animated cartoon or a subject from different perspectives. Dr. Noumbissi will put together a flip book of numerous X-ray “slices” of the same patient taken at different angles. You would be able to develop a 3-D model.

That’s what CBCT scanners do—using a rotating imaging device around the patient’s head, the scanner records between 150 and 600 different X-ray images in under a minute. Then, a high-powered computer processes the information and creates a virtual model of the area under study. When done, the model appears as a three-dimensional (3-D) image on our exam room computer screen. The image can rotate side-to-side or up and down so Dr. Sammy Noumbissi can examine the dental image in greater or less detail. He can also manipulate the image in various ways without the patient feeling discomfort!

Where Cone Beam CT Is Used?

The ability to see delicate anatomical structures in 3-D has proven invaluable in treating conditions in many areas of dentistry. Some of the areas treated include:

Dental implants: Dr. Sammy Noumbissi uses detailed CBCT images to determine the ideal location for the zirconia dental implant placement while avoiding nerves, sinuses, and areas of low bone density.
Oral Surgery: Our dental team can precisely treat tumors or impacted teeth using the fine details shown in these CBCT scans.
Orthognathic Jaw Surgery & Temporo-mandibular Joint Disease: Dr. Noumbissi treats all these conditions. He will evaluate your anatomy with the three-dimensional perspective of cone-beam CT.

Could Cone Beam CT Benefit You?

Dr. Sammy Noumbissi considers every patient’s situation before any test or procedure. For example, unlike many other diagnostic tests, CBCT delivers radiation (X-rays). However, it still carries a small risk — particularly for younger individuals or those with other health problems. Therefore, when the doctor considers all the benefits and alternatives, he can recommend treatment.

Schedule An Appointment Today!

Contact our dental team at Miles Of Smiles Implant Dentistry at (301) 588-0768 to schedule a consultation with our dental team. We have successfully treated many ceramic dental implant patients with the utilization of our CBCT technology from Silver Springs, Columbia, Annapolis, Burtonsville, Rockville, Baltimore, MD, and throughout Maryland, Virginia, and Washington DC.

To learn more about a Cone Beam CT, read some common CBCT Scan questions patients in the Washington DC area have asked our dental implant surgeon, Dr. Sammy Noumbissi at Miles of Smiles Implant Dentistry.