According to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons, 69 percent of people between the ages of 35 and 44 are missing a tooth. Dental implantation of a new permanent tooth is one treatment option, but patients who choose this procedure first must undergo a CAT scan.
CAT Scan
According to the Radiological Society of North America, a CAT scan, or CT scan, combines X-ray equipment with computer imaging to produce more detailed images of bones and internal organs than a regular X-ray can provide. During a CAT scan, the patient lies on an examination table that slides into a large, box-like machine.
Dental Implants
A dental implant is a permanent replacement for a lost tooth. It consists of a metal screw that fuses with the jawbone, an abutment that fits over the screw and a crown to make the implant look like a tooth.
Process
The CAT scan will give the oral surgeon a three-dimensional view of a patient's jawbone and the nerves near it, which will help the doctor plan the surgery , according to Massachusetts General Hospital.
Advantages
A CAT scan gives the surgeon more detailed information about the size and shape of a patient's jawbone than a regular X-ray, which allows the doctor to better evaluate potential sites for the implant.
Considerations
Undergoing a CAT scan does expose a person to radiation. It is not recommended that pregnant women undergo one, and nursing mothers need to wait 24 hours afterward before resuming breastfeeding.
Tags: more detailed, patient jawbone, regular X-ray, than regular, than regular X-ray
