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There are many procedures performed by the specialists at Century City Periodontics in Los Angeles that require a special scan. It is necessary to get a complete picture of a patient's underlying bone and tissue when evaluating for dental implants. This can be facilitated through the use of a computed tomography (CT) scan. This procedure is very similar to a conventional x-ray but shows a more detailed, 3-dimensional cross section of the area being scanned. In conjunction with standard X-rays it provides necessary information for safe and efficient treatment planning. |
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| The Procedure |
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A CT scan differs from a conventional x-ray in a
number of ways. The most important of which is how
the image is obtained. During a conventional x-ray
a single burst of radiation is allowed to pass through
the bone and/or tissues in a specific area. The
x-ray beam then strikes a photographic film. This
burst of radiation leaves an image of the area showing
the bones as white structures and the tissues appearing
in varying shades of gray. This type of scan allows
your periodontist to evaluate your bone and gum
tissue for a more definitive diagnosis and thus
a better surgical outcome. Specifically a CT scan
involves the release of a number of tiny radiations
which are directed from various angles at the area
being examined.
Before undergoing a CT scan, you will be asked to
remove items such as eyeglasses, hearing aids, jewelry,
hairpins or any other objects around your head and
neck that might contain metal. This would include
dentures and removable bridges. This is because
metal objects can cause streaks to appear on the
image and undermine its readability and accuracy.
At Century City Periodontics the CT scanner is housed
in its own room so that all radiation goes only
to the precisely selected area. Anyone having any
kind of radiographs is carefully shielded with the
use of lead aprons covering all non-targeted areas.
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