3D Cone Beam CT — why we invested in 2014

Recent advances in technology have allowed many dentists to apply 3D Cone Beam CT imaging to patient care in private practice. I took the plunge late in 2014, investing in one of the top-rated 3D Cone Beam CT scanners in order to improve the quality of dental care for my patients.

While most hospitals will charge around $1000 for a single scan, we charge only a small fraction of that cost. Less than one percent of the dentists in the world have this technology — in fact, none of my current cosmetic and general dental colleagues in my known network have one of these machines (as of November 2015).

I'm sure most dentists may think it highly impractical to allocate such a large monetary sum toward technology that will not give an immediate return on investment. However, in my humble opinion, the peace of mind of providing the best dental care for all my patients outweighs any monetary reward.

I've been very impressed with the accuracy of our imaging technology. We use it routinely for implant planning — maximizing both the length and diameter of each implant, thereby improving retention and long-term durability. The CBCT also reveals the precise location of the inferior alveolar (IA) and mental nerves. Without this technology, many dentists may unknowingly run the risk of damaging a nerve when placing implants of this size.

In February 2015, Dental Products Reports, one of the nation's leading dental magazines, interviewed our office about our use of this technology. The conversation centered on a question I get often: is the equipment worth it for a general practice? My answer was, and still is, yes — for any practice serious about restorative work, implant placement, TMJ evaluation, or complex extractions.

We continue to upgrade — most recently, replacing our original Rayscan with newer-generation imaging in 2020. Five years on, the investment has paid off in the form of cases we could keep in-house instead of referring out, and a track record of zero nerve injuries on implant placement.