Dental implants continue to grow in popularity as an option to replace missing teeth. Patients appreciate that they look and function just as their natural teeth do. Dr. Hanson can replace anything from a single missing tooth to all of your natural teeth using dental implants. Thanks to an investment in cone beam technology, they can now complete the process with even greater efficiency.
What is Dental Cone Beam Technology?
Cone beam computed tomography (CT) is an advanced type of X-ray machine that the dentists at Hanson Dental use when regular facial or dental X-rays are not adequate to provide them with a full view of your teeth and gums.
What makes cone beam technology special is that offers a detailed, three-dimensional view of your dental structures including the bone in your craniofacial region, nerve paths, and soft tissues. We encourage you to wear loose-fitting and comfortable clothing on the day of the procedure. Additionally, you may need to remove the following items to ensure that we receive the most accurate results from your CT scan:
- Dentures
- Eyeglasses
- Hairpins
- Hearing aids
- Jewelry
- Piercings if possible to remove
- Removable dental restorations
If you have had a standard CT scan, the cone beam CT is a bit different. The name cone beam refers to the fact that the X-ray beam resembles the shape of a cone. It moves around your head several times to obtain multiple photos of your dental structures from a variety of angles. The quality of dental cone beam CT images matches that of a typical CT scan.
Cone Beam Images Allow for Precise Placement of Your Dental Implants
The images that Dr. Hanson obtain from a cone beam CT machine helps to guide them through every phase of your oral surgery. This includes placing the posts that will replace your missing tooth roots, the abutment that will hold your replacement teeth in place, and the artificial teeth known as pontics. With our All-on-4 technology, we can complete your entire dental implant surgery in a single day.
Are Dental Implants Right for You?
If you no longer have some or all of your natural teeth, we invite you to contact us to schedule an evaluation for dental implants. Our office, located in Buffalo, Minnesota, is open until 5:00 p.m. Monday to Thursday and 2:00 p.m. on Friday.