Uses of a CT Scanner

The offices of the Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania are fully equipped for our patients’ diagnostic and treatment needs. One of the most important pieces of equipment we have is the computed tomography (CT) scanner. This kind of x-ray allows us to see the patient’s bone structure in much greater detail than can be done in most dental practices.

Typically, x-rays only allow a few views of a person’s mouth. By contrast, the CT scanner rotates around the patient's head, capturing images from every angle. This is important because the success of implant placement depends on where they are put and how much bone structure the patient retains. Following implant placement, the patient will need to periodically undergo imaging tests to ensure the bone and implant are integrating. If they are not, the implant must be removed. During apicoectomies, use of a CT scanner is also necessary to locate the tips of tooth roots. Often, an initial root canal fails because it did not account for an unusual tooth shape.

 The use of a CT scanner presents very little risk of radiation exposure to the patient. It takes less than a minute, is painless, and does not require any special preparation.

The Oral Surgery Consultants of Pennsylvania operate in Philadelphia, Folsom, and Clifton Heights. Visit Oral Surgery PA or call 215-463-4141.