X-rays play an important role in dental care, allowing your dentist to see your tooth structure and the bones that support your teeth. But as important as X-rays are, sometimes they don’t provide enough detail about your teeth and the tissue surrounding them. That’s when 3D imaging can help.
The team at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC uses 3D imaging to ensure patients at their New York City practice get the most up-to-date, advanced care for optimal oral health. Here’s how 3D imaging works and how this technology can help you get the care you need.
Traditional X-rays are two dimensional, meaning they provide images in two “planes.” You can think of a regular dental X-ray like a drawing of a tooth that essentially shows just one side or view.
By comparison, 3D imaging shows teeth in three dimensions and from multiple angles — the way we see things in “real life.” The images created using 3D technology provide a much more realistic rendering of your tooth and the structures that surround it.
During the imaging process, you hold your head in one position while an X-ray “camera” rotates around your head. The camera uses X-rays to capture dozens of individual images or views that are then combined to form a complete three-dimensional “photographic” model of your mouth.
3D imaging offers many benefits for your dentist and for you, too.
Unlike traditional “bite-wing” X-rays, there’s no film to bite down on. Plus, the scans are completed very quickly making them more comfortable and easy to tolerate.
With the 3D model of your teeth, your dentist can rotate your images to view them from different angles and examine how different structures relate to each other and work together.
3D images also allow your dentist to visualize your teeth and other tissues in “layers” for greater precision when diagnosing or managing treatment. They can also “zoom in” on specific areas using higher magnification for significantly more detail.
3D imaging provides your dentist with highly detailed images of your teeth — but that’s not all. The technology we use provides images of your jaw bone, airways, nerves, blood vessels, and soft tissues, too, providing a far more comprehensive picture of your oral health.
Because 3D imaging is so detailed and precise, our team routinely uses the technology to map out treatment plans for many of our patients. Specifically, 3D imaging is used to:
Because of its high level of precision and detail, 3D imaging plays an important role in both the diagnosis and treatment of many oral health issues, including complex problems.
Our team is committed to offering patients the most appropriate care using state-of-the-art technology for optimal outcomes. To learn more about the treatment options we offer, call 929-229-0255 or book an appointment online at Compassionate Endodontists New York/NYC today.
