Can Owning a CBCT Increase Patient Case Acceptance?
I recently read an eBook from Instrumentarium titled "3 Ways 3D Imaging Has Patients Saying, ‘YES!’" It’s a clever pitch for their OP300 CBCT system, but buried in the promotion are some compelling points. The central claim? 3D imaging boosts patient case acceptance. Ask dentists who use CBCT, and most would nod in agreement. Showing a condition in three dimensions beats explaining it with words or flat images every time. Implants seem to lead the pack—patients grasp the need when they see the bone and placement in 3D.
Access to Cone-Beam CT as a Practice Builder
Instrumentarium argues that owning a CBCT draws patients to your practice. It’s hard to dispute the wow factor—patients are impressed by the tech. That’s a double-edged sword. On one hand, it’s a draw; on the other, some dentists might overuse it to justify the cost, imaging more than necessary. Ideally, referral imaging centers would handle CBCT, keeping tech cutting-edge and doses low, though it means an extra trip for patients. Still, I get the appeal of in-office systems—if I ran a practice, I’d lean that way too. The key is responsibility: use it when warranted and interpret the entire scan, not just the teeth.
Dental 3D Imaging: New to Most Patients
The eBook suggests a car-buying analogy—would you pick a vehicle seeing only the front, or with a 360-degree view, inside and out? It’s a solid way to pitch 3D imaging’s value to patients. Analogies are endless, but visuals seal the deal—pictures, or better, videos. Imagine CBCT demos for implant planning, extractions, orthodontics, or endodontics. We’re working on that—check our YouTube channel (Oral Radiologists Videos) for updates.
Is the Dose from CBCT Dangerous?
Modern CBCT doses have dropped impressively, now rivaling other dental imaging modalities and staying far below medical CT. The eBook highlights Automated Dose Control (ADC), a feature borrowed from medical CT to optimize exposure. If Instrumentarium’s OP300 pulls this off—lower dose, same quality—it’s a win worth noting.
Uses for Cone-Beam CT
The eBook lists CBCT’s benefits across specialties. Here’s their rundown, cleaned up:
- Orthodontics: Measures growth, skeletal symmetry, alveolar ridge shape, occlusion, TMJs, and guides treatment plans.
- Endodontics: Pinpoints root canal anomalies, curvature, and apex location pre-treatment.
- Implantology: Assesses bone quality and quantity in a 1:1 ratio, maps sinuses and canals, and supports guided surgery and restoration.
- Oral Surgery: Defines protocols for orthognathic cases, locates impacted teeth, evaluates TMJs, and assesses cysts.
- Periodontics: Diagnoses bone loss, tooth fractures, plate position, and intrabony defects.
Tying It Together
It’s a tidy summary of how CBCT drives treatment and acceptance. But who turns a scan into a patient-friendly story? Oral radiologists, already combing every frame, could snapshot key findings for reports that serve three goals:
- Review the full scan for pathology, maximizing benefit and minimizing liability.
- Train dentists less familiar with interpretation.
- Educate patients, boosting case acceptance.
That’s our aim at oralradiologists.com. See a sample report here: CBCT Sample Report. Reports vary by case—tailored to your needs, not one-size-fits-all.
For Instrumentarium’s full take, download their brochure: 3 Ways 3D Imaging Has Patients Saying ‘YES!’.