The amount of radiation received is measured in units of “rem” or “sievert”.
Normally, our body is exposed daily to radiation from various natural sources (atmospheric, cosmic, internal, and terrestrial radiation) or artificial sources (microwave ovens, TVs, monitors, mobile phones, etc.).
Below you can see a comparative table of different types of radiological procedures and the radiation doses received naturally on a daily basis. Most medical or dental procedures involve risks, as well as benefits, and dental tomography is no exception.
The major real benefit is that the surgical procedure of implant placement can be precisely planned on a computerbefore the actual surgery takes place. The effective radiation dose from a dental CT scan should not exceed 0.5 mSv per arch, and is in fact less than 0.3 mSv per arch when using the most modern equipment.
There has been much discussion about the radiation dose delivered by certain medical procedures. This varies from patient to patient (depending on age and sex).
To put things into perspective, every person receives about 2.2 mSv of natural background radiation from the ground annually, meaning that the radiation from a CT scan is equivalent to less than 3 months of natural ground radiation.
In other words, the radiation dose from a single CT investigation will, in any case, be absorbed naturally over the next few months from the environment.
Effective doses absorbed through various radiological procedures:
| Procedure | Effective dose (microsivert) | Effective dose (mrem) |
| Natural radiation (for comparison) | 3600/year | 360/year |
| Chest X-ray (for comparison) | 170 | 17 |
| Mandibular tomography | 150-700 | 15-70 |
| Bitewing | 2-3 | 0.2-0.3 |
| Full mouth series (14 films) | 10-15 | 1-1.5 |
| Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) | 2 | 0.2 |
| Cephalometric X-ray (Teleradiography) | 6-11 | 1.7 |
| Panoramic X-ray | 6-11 | 0.6-1.1 |
Depending on the type of equipment, you will be positioned either standing or sitting and must remain still for the entire exposure, which lasts 11 seconds. The radiology assistant will usually use a forehead and chin support to ensure you do not move. This way, you will be prepared for the CBCT scan.
Usually, the radiology assistant takes a verification image to ensure the accuracy of the area of interest before starting the exposure. After the verification image is taken, the actual exposure begins. The machine will move in a circular motion around your head but will not touch you. Once the exposure is complete, you will be asked to take a seat while the images are checked by the staff.
As many as your doctor deems necessary, provided they are aware of them. If the additional information provided by a radiological investigation helps ensure that the treatment you receive is of the highest quality, then the benefit to you outweighs any potential risk.
There is no need for any special preparation for a CT scan.
When you arrive, you will be asked to remove any jewelry from your head and neck so they do not interfere with the equipment. Once in the examination room, all you need to do is sit according to the operator’s instructions in the CT machine. Your head will rest comfortably on a padded support, and an arm will rotate around it.
The scan takes between 20 and 90 seconds, without you feeling anything during the procedure.
Digital dental X-rays and dental CT scans do not affect the embryo, the organogenesis process, or birth. The radiation emitted by dental X-ray machines is extremely low and targeted at the teeth, while the reflection toward risk areas (abdomen, ovaries, breasts) is shielded by a specially designed lead apron.
Although they have no significant effect, and the radiation levels are extremely low, it is recommended that pregnant women avoid X-rays whenever possible.
The patient receives the result in the form of a CD containing all images collected during the investigation, including the software platform for viewing them.
If the patient has an email address, they will receive a link to download all the data to a PC for later analysis.
You can receive the result on the spot if needed. Image processing takes 15–30 minutes, or the next day if you request the CBCT to be printed on film.
A 3D radiological investigation is essential for developing an accurate and complete diagnosis. When the dentist needs to complement the clinical examination with an X-ray, they may opt for a modern and extremely precise diagnostic solution such as CBCT.
The 3D CT scan is primarily used in treatment planning for prosthetic work involving dental implants, in the evaluation of periapical infections, in orthodontic diagnosis for repositioning impacted teeth, and also in endodontics to assess the number and trajectory of root canals.
