facebook pixel
medical

CBCT For Clinical Treatment

Have More Confidence in your Treatment of Patients with CBCT Machines

Never before has patient satisfaction, follow up appointment scheduling, and reducing complications been more important.

This is particularly true in many medical fields. Not only do patients expect precise, safe care — they also anticipate a positive aesthetic outcome, comfortable procedure, and lack of pain or complications following it.

Using a Cone Beam Computed Tomography machine helps you achieve these aims more readily than other solutions.

Dental and radiology professionals are more empowered to diagnose, treat, and follow up with their patients thanks to 3D imagery.

RGS Healthcare provides innovative solutions — providing unmatched efficiency, clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction, and profitability.

Let’s further explore the nature of CBCT equipment and the several benefits they provide.

What is CBCT?

Cone beam computed tomography, also known as C-arm CT, cone beam volume CT, Digital Volume Tomography (DVT), or flat panel CT, is a type of medical imaging. CBCT uses X-rays in a divergent manner to form a conical shape.

The Importance of CBCT

CBCT has become a critical factor in diagnosis and treatment planning. This is especially true with interventional radiology, orthopedics, ENT, and implant dentistry.

CBCT scanners, for instance, are now used heavily in endodontics, orthodontics, and oral surgery.

Additionally, specialists in image-guided radiation therapy (IGRT) are leaning on CBCT for improved verification and patient positioning.

Imaging Usage of CBCT: Positioning

A CBCT scanner can rotate around a patient’s head during orthodontic or dental imaging. This enables practitioners to take over 600 unique images.

In terms of interventional radiology, you can position a patient offset to the table. This allows the region of interest to be centered in the field of view with the cone beam.

Even just a rotation of 200 degrees provides a large volumetric data set to work with.

CBCT Data Construction

The software takes the data and then reconstructs it. This creates 3D voxels composed of anatomical data, which create what is called a digital volume.

These digital volumes can then be manipulated to provide detailed visualizations with the right software.

MRI AdobeStock

CBCT vs. Fan Beam CT

Traditionally, fan beam CT has been used in medical practices. While fan beam CT and CBCT are similar in several regards, there are also important distinctions.

Primarily, reconstruction is more favorable with CBCT. For this reason, it is quickly becoming the standard for imaging, especially in the case of Maxillofacial or oral applications.

The Use of CBCT in Maxillofacial and Oral Radiology

CBCT was first developed via a collaboration between Japanese and Italian doctors in the 1990s. The first commercial  system was available in U.S. markets by 2001.

Due to its enhanced ability for manipulation and patient positioning, its popularity has since grown immensely.

Radiotherapy Using Cone Beam CT

Since Cone Beam CT has used kilovoltage X-rays since its origin, it was used for diagnostic purposes. X-rays attached to a linear accelerator opened up applications for therapeutic usage.

The 2010s ushered in a new era for Cone Beam CT, allowing for particle therapy delivery systems.

Interventional Radiology and Cone Beam Computed Tomography

CBCT, along with X-ray image intensifiers, was the first step in delivering flat-panel X-ray detectors. Since then, CBCT has become the most practical solution for interventional radiology procedures in clinical use.

Because of this, C-arm fluoroscopy systems, mobile, and fixed CBCT acquisition ability have become the norm. They can be used in addition to planar fluoroscopy, which is a more traditional approach.

Applications for CBCT

Cone Beam Computed Tomography can be used for a range of medical applications.

Some of these include:

Endodontics

Display important root canal anatomical features that traditional imaging does not provide.

The American Association of Endodontics says that 3D images improve diagnosis and aid treatment.

Implantology

Using dental cone beam scans, you can assess vital information when planning surgical implants.

The American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (AAOMR) chooses cone beam CT as the gold standard of pre-surgical assessment when it comes to dental implants.

Orthodontics

CBCT is a 3D rendition that can be utilized by dentists to visualize non-erupted or erupted teeth more effectively.

Conventional 2D radiography does not provide this level of detail, including tooth root orientation or anomalous structures.

Orthopedics

Achieve undistorted views of any extremity thanks to CBCT scanners. You can even take weight-bearing images, particularly of lower extremities — a large obstacle until now.

This is one of the reasons that CBCT usage has gained popularity for surgical planning.

Image-Guided Radiation Therapy

Image-guided radiation therapy leverages external beam radiotherapy — positioning the patient to allow for accurate matching for most position fields.

This enables reducing the dose to nearby organs while treating only the necessary organs or tissues. Exact organ placement is essential for minimizing harm and complications for the patient before and during the operation.

You can adjust the imaging equipment or table for accurate analysis and proper placement.

Interventional Radiology and CBCT

By mounting a CBCT scanner on a C-arm fluoroscopy unit, you can improve outcomes with interventional radiology. Real-time patient imaging eliminates patient transfer needs and cuts procedure times down.

And it can also provide reduced exposure to radiation for the patient during the operation.

Transform your Practice with Cone Beam CT

At RGS Healthcare, we take pride in equipping medical practices with state-of-the-art technology. Ultimately, you can achieve faster workflows, easier integration, more in-depth diagnoses, and ideal patient outcomes.

Contact the medical equipment specialists at RGS Healthcare today. Learn how you can reduce expenses, eliminate mistakes, and save time with precise and safe treatment options today.

MRI medical