Sidekick - Volume 2, 2020 - 51

CBCT: How, What, Where, When?
By William Busch, DMD, MAGD, Diplomate ASBA

* Improved workflows. On average, practitioners can improve
diagnosis by 30-35% with CBCT. Having a 3D view of the
patient's mouth saves you time, saves your patients' time, and
enables more informed treatment decision making.
* Increased patient acceptance. On average, dental practices have
$500,000 in pending treatment plans, and now their patients
can be more active participants in these decisions with tools
like cone beam technology and digital impression taking. CBCT
actually allows them to see what I see, and they can understand it.
Because of this, my patients are asking me what's next rather than
me telling them what to do.
* High practice growth. Practitioners can expand their practices,
using CBCT for:
* Implant placement
* Impactions and endodontics
* Inferior alveolar canal location
* Trauma evaluation
* TMJ visualization
* Sinus issues such as mucus retention cysts and sinus infections
* Surgical guides
* Odontogenic lesion location
Placement
18% of general practitioners in the U.S. are placing implants. Accuracy
is significantly increased when armed with CBCT, eliminating
contingency treatment plans and surprises during implant surgery.
Prior to having these systems, many practitioners were handling
implant placement freehand. Medically, you are on much firmer
ground when you have cone beam in place. It's akin to having GPS
technology: you know the size, what brand, and where to place the
implant in the patient's mouth.
The CBCT measures an
exact one-to-one ratio with
no superimposed structures
or magnification. This way,
you can precisely measure in
between implants to ensure
you have the proper room
from one implant to another,
and you can assess the
bone quality and quantity.
Specialists can place a single
implant in roughly 15 minutes
if they are well prepared.
These days, patients are more aware of this technology, and it's not
uncommon for them to ask whether you will be using CBCT as a
surgical guide for their implant procedure. Prior to the procedure,
can have them sign off on pictures, so they have a full understanding
of the treatment plan, and so that you are better covered legally.

Endodontics
Endodontics
is another
area where
CBCT helps
practitioners
make proper
choices, save visit
time, and improve
their bottom
line. Since we
Sagittal slide showing patient with large soft palate.
get a full volume on
new patients, if they
come in later on and need a root canal, we can plan each patient's
case ahead of time. We reference their 3D and look for extra canals
and unusual anatomy. Today, I combine the CBCT with CEREC
technology and am able to perform a root canal treatment and add a
crown all in the same visit in about 90 minutes.
Airway Analysis
Having CBCT in your toolbox offers the means to enhance the wellbeing of patients in numerous ways, particularly in sleep medicine.
Experts say that consistently getting a good night's sleep can add
ten years to your life, so this is an important area where we can
benefit our patients.
1 in 15 Americans have sleep apnea, and 85% of these are
undiagnosed. With cone beam, my hygienists are able to conduct
airway analysis while they're waiting for me to come into the exam
room, and they'll get the conversation started, asking whether the
patient has daytime tiredness or related symptoms. Our radiologist
then examines a three-dimensional view of the airway, looking at
the sinuses and whether there is a deviated septum, and if needed,
I refer patients back to their primary care physician for help if it
appears that they may have sleep apnea.
Earlier Diagnosis
Screening and periodic exams are of paramount importance for
preventing pain. Practitioners are likely to have 25% more incidental
findings with CBCT in place. It enables earlier identification of a wide
range of issues such as erosions, osteophytes, and pneumatization
of the sinuses, which are difficult to detect with conventional
radiographs.
Discover the benefits of CBCT. Contact your Henry Schein
Representative for more information.

William Busch, DMD, MAGD

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) has transformed
dentistry in many ways. Having this digital technology enables
practitioners to be more productive by streamlining workflows - and
to be more profitable by offering increased services.

Having CBCT in your toolbox offers the
means to enhance the well-being of
patients in numerous ways.

Sidekick | Vol. 2 2020 | 51

Sidekick - Volume 2, 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Sidekick - Volume 2, 2020