Digital Imaging Technology Can Enhance Patient Care

Imaging technology is essential in planning a patient’s oral surgery, and three-dimensional imaging, rather than conventional x-rays, can help the oral surgeon identify any potential pitfalls or surprises prior to the surgery rather than in the midst of it. When patients have access to such imaging prior to a surgical procedure, their care may ultimately be enhanced.

For example, three-dimensional imaging can help to better pinpoint the location of impacted wisdom teeth, allowing the surgeon to perform a more predictable extraction procedure.

Similarly, this technology can be quite beneficial for patients who are in need of tooth replacement and choose dental implants as a treatment option. Again, being able to visualize a lifelike representation of the implant placement site can help to prevent any unexpected events during the procedure.

When consulting with an oral surgeon about any sort of treatment, patients should ask about the imaging technology that is used in the practice. More advanced equipment, such as cone beam computed tomography (CT) scanners, can significantly streamline the treatment planning process.

For example, some scanners can capture the necessary data in less than 10 seconds and produce a complete three-dimensional picture of the patient’s jaw in about 20 seconds. This gives the surgeon the opportunity to make treatment decisions relatively quickly when reviewing the pictures.

Having these three-dimensional images is also helpful because traditional two-dimensional x-rays often have distortions that may compromise the value of the x-ray and create the need to plan for contingencies during surgery.

When the scanner is available in the surgeon’s office, it’s more convenient for patients, as they don’t have to travel to a separate imaging center. Everything is available to them right at the office.

If you are in need of oral surgery, such as wisdom tooth extraction or dental implant placement, ask about the imaging technology that is used at the office. Three-dimensional imaging can truly enhance patient care. We encourage you to contact our office at 214-618-3070 to ask any questions you may have about our imaging techniques and equipment.