Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is rapidly becoming the new standard of care in dentistry. Although many dentists have yet to adopt this new standard, at the TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado, we know how important this technique is for helping us to give you the right treatment for your TMJ symptoms.
What Is a “Standard of Care”?
Standard of care initially began as a legal concept for use in medical malpractice lawsuits. The standard of care was the normal precautions or steps that a doctor or dentist should take to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment of a certain condition.
Partly because of the influence of medical malpractice lawsuits on the practice of medicine and partly because doctors and dentists are always interested in improving the practice of medicine, there is more talk among professionals these days about keeping to and improving the standard of care.
Why CBCT Is Becoming the Standard
Since its introduction, people have begun to understand the power of CBCT for analyzing many dental problems and conditions. CBCT gives us a three-dimensional view of the bones, teeth, and other hard tissue in your body, allowing us to get a comprehensive view of treatment areas. There’s no longer a need to guess about the three-dimensional shape of tissues on the basis of a flat x-ray.
CBCT allows a dentist to get better information about detailed small structures within the tooth and jawbone, making it essential for modern endodontics and dental implant planning. For us, it also allows an unequalled view of the temporomandibular joint, which gives us a more complete understanding of injuries and displacement of the joint. We no longer have to guess about the configuration of the joint based on your symptoms, feeling the joint, and listening to sounds, now we can see it in detail, which helps us diagnose your symptoms, recommend treatments, and monitor the effectiveness of those treatments.
If you would like to learn more about how CBCT can help you get optimal treatment for your TMJ, please call (303) 691-0267 to schedule an appointment at the TMJ Therapy & Sleep Center of Colorado in Denver.
