Cone-beam 3D Imaging
If you have ever been referred for oral surgery or asked to have a CT scan taken at your dentist’s office, you may have wondered what makes that technology different from a standard x-ray. At Wilshire Oral Surgery and Implant Center, our team uses cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a core part of surgical planning for procedures including dental implants, bone grafting, jaw surgery, impacted tooth removal, and more. This page explains what CBCT is, why our team relies on it, what you can expect during a scan, and why its radiation levels are far lower than most people assume.
Our surgeons, Dr. Jonathan R. Shadi and Dr. Saman Vahedi, DDS, both trained at the University of Southern California’s Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry and completed rigorous oral and maxillofacial surgery residencies. Dr. Vahedi is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. When you visit our practice for a consultation, in-office CBCT imaging allows us to plan your procedure with precision from the very first appointment rather than relying on referrals to external imaging centers or working from flat, two-dimensional films.
How Cone Beam 3D Imaging Works
Standard dental x-rays use a flat, fan-shaped beam to capture a two-dimensional image. CBCT takes a fundamentally different approach. A cone-shaped x-ray beam rotates around your head in a single pass, capturing hundreds of images from multiple angles in seconds. Those images are then reconstructed by software into a true three-dimensional model of your teeth, jawbone, sinuses, nerve canals, and surrounding anatomy.
Unlike a hospital-grade CT scan, which uses a rotating gantry and requires lying flat in a tube, a CBCT scan is taken while you sit or stand upright. The scan itself takes less than 60 seconds, with no injections, no contrast dye, and no special preparation. Because the beam is narrowly focused on the craniofacial region rather than scanning the whole body, it delivers a fraction of the radiation exposure of a conventional medical CT.
True 3D Views
Captures bone, teeth, nerves, and sinuses in precise three-dimensional detail that flat x-rays cannot provide.
Lower Radiation
Our CBCT scanner delivers roughly 95 µSv per jaw scan, comparable to a single chest x-ray and far less than a head CT.
Faster Planning
In-office imaging means your surgical plan can often be completed during your consultation visit without a separate referral.
Precise Measurements
Our surgeons can measure bone dimensions, nerve clearance, and sinus proximity to the nearest fraction of a millimeter.
What Our Team Uses CBCT For
CBCT imaging gives our oral surgery team the information needed to approach complex cases confidently and safely. Our most common applications include the following.
- Cone-beam 3D Imaging implant planning — assessing bone volume, height, and density to select the correct implant size and confirm safe placement away from nerves and the sinus floor
- Surgical guide fabrication — planning complex or multiple implant placements virtually before the procedure so that precision guides can be manufactured in advance
- Bone graft evaluation — identifying defects in the jawbone and mapping the area that will need reconstruction before and after a bone graft
- Impacted tooth localization — pinpointing the exact position, angulation, and depth of impacted canines or wisdom teeth relative to adjacent roots and nerves before extraction
- Orthognathic surgery planning — virtually mapping jaw movement for corrective jaw surgery and evaluating how skeletal changes will affect your airway and bite
- Pathology assessment — measuring cysts, tumors, or lesions in the jawbone and evaluating their relationship to surrounding structures before a biopsy or surgical removal
- Facial fracture diagnosis — reconstructing the facial skeleton in three dimensions to characterize fractures and plan repair for facial trauma
- TMJ evaluation — visualizing changes in the shape and position of the temporomandibular joint
- Airway and sleep apnea analysis — performing a three-dimensional measurement of your airway as part of surgical planning for obstructive sleep apnea
Radiation Safety and How CBCT Compares
Radiation dose is one of the first questions our patients ask, and it deserves a direct, clear answer. Our CBCT scanner on a standard single-jaw setting delivers approximately 95 µSv (microsieverts). To put that figure in context, here is how it compares to other common exposures you may encounter in daily life and medical care.
| Exposure Source | Approximate Dose |
|---|---|
| Coast-to-coast round trip flight | 30 µSv |
| Our CBCT scan (one jaw) | ~95 µSv |
| Chest x-ray | 100 µSv |
| Standing outdoors for 10 days (background radiation) | 100 µSv |
| Mammogram | 400 µSv |
| CT scan of the head | 2,000 µSv |
| CT scan of the abdomen and pelvis | 10,000 µSv |
Because CBCT technology has continued to improve since it was introduced, doses have declined steadily as manufacturers refine detector sensitivity and beam-shaping software. We calibrate our scanner regularly and follow the ALARA principle (as low as reasonably achievable) on every scan. Research reviewed by the National Institutes of Health confirms that CBCT provides clinically meaningful three-dimensional data for implant and oral surgery planning at radiation levels well within accepted safety margins.
What to Expect During Your CBCT Scan
CBCT scans are quick, non-invasive, and require no special preparation on your part. Here is what a typical scan visit looks like at our practice.
Prepare for the scan
You will be asked to remove any metal objects, including jewelry, glasses, and removable dental appliances. Wear loose, comfortable clothing with no metal fasteners near your neck or shoulders.
Position and remain still
You will sit or stand in the CBCT unit while head supports help you hold a steady position. Remaining still during the scan is important; patient movement can introduce image artifacts that reduce diagnostic quality.
The scan rotates around you
The rotating arm of the CBCT unit travels around your head in a single pass, typically taking 20 to 60 seconds. You will hear a low hum and see movement but will not feel anything.
Images are reviewed immediately
Once the scan is complete, the software reconstructs the three-dimensional model in minutes. Our team reviews it with you at the same appointment, so you leave with a clear picture of the plan before any procedure begins.
Frequently Asked Questions About Cone Beam 3D Imaging
Below are the questions our patients ask most often about CBCT scans at Wilshire Oral Surgery and Implant Center.
Is a CBCT scan the same as a medical CT scan?
No. A CBCT scanner is specifically designed for the head and jaw, uses a cone-shaped beam instead of a fan-shaped one, and delivers a much lower radiation dose than a hospital CT scanner. It is also faster, taken while you sit or stand upright, and does not require contrast dye or an IV. The tradeoff is that CBCT shows bone and teeth in exceptional detail but provides less soft-tissue contrast than a full medical CT scan.
Do I need to do anything to prepare for my CBCT scan?
No special preparation is required. Simply remove metal jewelry, glasses, hearing aids, and any removable dental appliances before the scan. Wear clothing without metal near the neckline. No fasting, injections, or medication changes are needed.
Will my dental insurance cover the CBCT scan?
Coverage varies by plan. Many dental insurance policies cover CBCT imaging when it is ordered as part of a covered surgical procedure such as implant placement or wisdom tooth removal. Our team can help verify your benefits before your appointment. Visit our insurance and financing page for more information, or contact our office directly.
Can I bring my CBCT images from another office?
Yes. If you have had a recent CBCT taken at another dental or oral surgery office, please bring the images on disc or share the DICOM files with us ahead of your consultation. In some cases we may request a repeat scan if the field of view or image quality is not sufficient for our planning needs, but we will always review what you already have first to avoid unnecessary duplication.
Is a CBCT scan safe for patients with existing dental implants or crowns?
Yes. Metal restorations such as crowns, bridges, and implants are safe to scan, though they do produce small bright artifacts in the image called metal scatter. Our scanner uses metal artifact reduction software during image reconstruction to minimize this effect, which helps preserve diagnostic clarity in areas near existing restorations.
How is a CBCT different from a panoramic x-ray?
A panoramic x-ray produces a single wide two-dimensional image of the full mouth and jaws and is useful for a general overview. CBCT generates a true three-dimensional model that allows our surgeons to measure bone depth and width, trace nerve pathways, and plan implant or surgical positions in all three spatial dimensions. For most oral surgery procedures, a panoramic x-ray is not sufficient on its own for safe surgical planning.
Schedule Your Consultation
Dr. Shadi and Dr. Vahedi built Wilshire Oral Surgery and Implant Center on the principle that every patient deserves the clearest possible picture of their oral health before any procedure begins. Our in-office CBCT imaging means you will not be sent to an external imaging center and then asked to wait for results before planning can move forward. The technology, the expertise, and the conversation about your options happen together, at your appointment, so you can make confident decisions about your care.
If you have been referred for oral surgery, are considering dental implants, or have questions about any procedure we offer, we invite you to request an appointment with our team. Our office is located at 12300 Wilshire Blvd #326, Los Angeles, CA 90025, and you can reach us by phone at (310) 846-8978.