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These days it is considered malpractice in the U.S. to do dental implants without having a CT scan done.

Until relatively recently, the standard x-rays that were taken for dental implants were called a panoramic x-ray or OPG. This x-ray gives a good overview of the mouth and is far superior to small x-rays taken in the mouth for giving an idea of the important anatomy around dental implants.

The big problem with these x-rays is magnification and distortion. They are simply not accurate enough for dental implants. The traditional x-rays were all magnified to varying degrees and so it is impossible to take accurate measurements from these. This means an OPG x-ray doesn’t allow us to know how far the implant will be from a nerve, for instance. A CAT scan (or C.T. scan) overcomes this problem as it is extremely accurate and allows very precise measurements to be taken. For you, this means a completely safe implant procedure.

The Advantage

The CT scan also has huge advantages as it gives us a full 3D view of the bone. This means we can check before surgery if there are any defects present in the bone which may affect implant placement. We can check if there are any undercuts in the bone which may undermine an implant for example. A CT is now essential for any dental implant placement.

Another advantage a CT can bring is in relation to 3D guided surgery. In some complex cases it is necessary to prepare a surgical guide to angle the implant within the bone. Using a CT scan it is possible to manufacture one of these extremely accurately.

Dental Implants at Seapoint

At Seapoint, these are are part of our daily routine. We believe strongly that they should be the routine of every Implantologist.