What is it like to get a dental cone beam CT scan?

Before You Arrive

There’s almost nothing you need to do to prepare for a CBCT scan. Unlike a medical CT, there’s no fasting, no contrast dye, no needles, and no medications to worry about.

A few practical notes:

• Wear something comfortable — you’ll be standing or sitting during the scan
• Leave off jewelry from the neck up (earrings, necklaces, facial piercings) since metal can interfere with imaging
• If you’re pregnant or think you may be, tell our team beforehand
• You don’t need to fast, take medication differently, or bring anything specific

At the Appointment

Once you arrive at our South River Road office, the CBCT scan itself is one of the shortest parts of your visit. Our team will guide you into the scanner room and position you either standing or seated, depending on the equipment. You’ll be asked to bite gently on a small positioning device that keeps your head still during the scan.

What happens next surprises most patients:

• The scanner rotates once around your head, taking about 20 to 40 seconds
• You feel nothing — there’s no sensation of the scan happening
• You’ll hear a low mechanical hum as the equipment moves
• You just need to stand or sit still and breathe normally

Total time in the scanner room, including positioning, is usually under 5 minutes.

Is It Safe?

Yes. A dental cone beam CT scan uses a focused, low-dose X-ray beam designed specifically for the oral and facial region — delivering significantly less radiation than a traditional medical head CT.

For context, a typical dental CBCT delivers between 30 and 200 microsieverts of radiation depending on the field of view. A medical head CT delivers around 2,000 microsieverts, and even a single cross-country flight exposes you to more background radiation than most dental CBCT scans.

Dr. Paul Connolly only recommends CBCT imaging when the clinical benefit justifies the exposure, following the ALARA principle (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) that governs modern dental radiography.

What Your Dentist Sees That You Can't

The moment the scan finishes, a full 3D model of your teeth, jaw, sinuses, and surrounding structures appears on the computer. This is where the value of CBCT becomes visible — both literally and figuratively.

Unlike a traditional 2D dental X-ray, which shows a flat image of teeth and some surrounding bone, a CBCT scan reveals:

• Bone density and volume in three dimensions
• The exact position of nerves running through the jaw
• Sinus location and anatomy
• Impacted teeth, hidden root fractures, and cysts
• TMJ (jaw joint) structure and health
• Airway and soft tissue relationships

For patients considering dental implants or full arch restoration (All-on-4 / All-on-6), this level of detail is what makes safe, predictable treatment possible. Dr. Connolly uses the scan to plan implant positions, evaluate jawbone health, and design custom surgical guides before treatment begins.

Reviewing the Scan With Dr. Connolly

One of the most valuable parts of receiving a CBCT scan at a specialist prosthodontic practice is same-day interpretation. Rather than sending images to an outside radiologist and waiting days for a report, Dr. Connolly personally reviews your scan during the same appointment — often within minutes of the scan completing.

During this review, you can expect to:

• See your own scan on the screen, rotated and sectioned to show relevant anatomy
• Have Dr. Connolly walk you through what he sees, in plain language
• Discuss findings related to your specific concerns or planned treatment
• Get initial answers about candidacy, timeline, and next steps

Many patients tell us this is the moment complex dentistry actually starts to feel understandable — seeing your own anatomy in three dimensions makes the treatment plan tangible in a way that words and 2D X-rays can’t match.

After Your Scan

There’s no recovery period, no restrictions, and no follow-up care specifically related to the scan itself. You can drive, work, eat, and continue your day exactly as you would after any routine dental visit.

If your scan reveals findings that call for treatment planning — implant placement, bone grafting evaluation, or other complex work — Dr. Connolly will outline the next steps during your same-day review or schedule a dedicated planning session.