Cone beam CT has moved from an ‘optional extra’ to becoming a necessity for a lot of dental practices, as dentistry continues to evolve with advancements in technology. Where a 2D X-ray gives you a flat picture, cone beam (CBCT) gives you a full 3D view of a patient's anatomy, built from a single low-dose scan. With the addition of 3D imaging, more can be achieved in-house, from precise implant placement to orthodontic assessments.

CBCT shares similarities to how CT scanning is used in hospitals. Built for the purpose of dental and maxillofacial imaging, the system has been adapted. Instead of a fan-shaped beam and multiple passes, a CBCT unit projects a cone-shaped beam onto a flat panel detector and captures the whole area of interest in one rotation around the patient. The single rotation is what makes CBCT so efficient. The system reconstructs the raw data into multi-planar views of the imaged anatomy: coronal, sagittal and axial images are presented, easily enabling a 360 view for precision guided outcomes. This type of system also allows for complete control over resolution and field of view (FOV), so scans are more controlled and leave out the unnecessary.

What it changes for your practice:

Sharper, more reliable images. CBCT avoids the superimposition and distortion that can happen in 2D radiographs, so the view is a truer representation of the anatomy.

More diagnostic detail. Bone loss, root fractures, impacted teeth and other hard-to-spot issues show up more clearly in 3D, which supports more confident diagnosis and treatment planning.

Lower radiation dose. Modern CBCT units scan at low-dose settings without sacrificing the image quality. This is beneficial for patients, as well as giving clinicians more confidence in what they’re able to see.

Better patient conversations. A 3D image is a lot easier for a patient to understand than a 2D image. By showing a patient their own anatomy, it tends to make treatment recommendations easier to explain and easier to accept.

Fewer, more efficient appointments. Everything is captured in one scan saving time for teams and patients. It erases the need for multiple images to be stitched together.

As CBCT can be used to capture a variety of different areas, the FOV options allow for specialised scanning to get the images needed for a particular case.

A smaller FOV (around 5x5cm) suits focused work like single implants or endodontic evaluation. A mid-range FOV covers a full arch or both arches, useful for implant planning across multiple sites. Larger FOVs, up to full maxillofacial coverage, support orthodontic analysis, TMJ assessment and airway evaluation.

The more FOV flexibility a system has, the more of these applications can be brought in-house, rather than referring patients elsewhere. If the question is whether CBCT fits in your practice, it's worth mapping the FOV ranges against the services you already offer, and the services you’d like your practice to grow into.

Probo Medical supplies new CBCT systems through our partnership with DEXIS, distributing their OP 3D series. These extraoral imaging systems cater to a range of budgets, making reliable 3D imaging achievable for any practice. For practices wanting the widest FOV range and highest resolution options, the DEXIS OP 3D LX is a great option to consider.

To learn more about the DEXIS OP 3D LX, read our recent blog post: Why It's Time to Upgrade Your Dental X-Ray Imaging from 2D to 3D.

Every system comes with installation, training for your team, and ongoing service and support, plus finance options if needed. With support from our product specialists, we can help you to match FOV range, resolution and price point to what your practice needs.