How to Effectively Perform a Dual Scan with a CBCT Scanner
What if there was a method to make dental implant placements more precise, minimally invasive, and easy to restore for fully edentulous patients? The answer lies in the Dual Scan Protocol using a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) Scanner.
This method is ideal for completely edentulous cases, making it the perfect aid when placing implants for patients wearing dentures. By taking two distinct scans using a CBCT scanner, you can plan the placement of dental implants with high precision and design surgical guides with ease.
However, taking an accurate dual scan can be difficult, and many submitted dual scans are imprecise or inaccurate. To be effective, it’s critical to meet the tissue guide requirements revolving around the dual scan protocol.
The Benefits of a CBCT Dual Scan
The CBCT Dual Scan protocol is a powerful tool that opens up a host of opportunities for both dental practitioners and patients alike.
CBCT Dual Scans help bridge the gap between diagnosis and treatment. With the high-resolution 3D images the scan provides, practitioners gain a comprehensive view of the patient's mouth. This results in improved diagnostic accuracy and more predictable treatment outcomes.
Specifically, it helps facilitate a minimally invasive implant placement procedure using a tissue guide. This tool sits directly on the patient's gingiva, eradicating the need for a tissue flap.
Further enhancing the procedure, the dual scan protocol allows for prosthetically driven implant treatment planning. This ensures optimal implant placement and easier restoration processes to significantly enhance the patient's experience.
In other words, the CBCT dual scan underpins precise implant surgeries, leading to superior patient outcomes and streamlined procedures for practitioners. At the same time, the visual impact of 3D imaging can be used to educate your patients, helping them understand their dental condition and the proposed treatment plan.
When used effectively, the CBCT dual scan is a great solution for creating patient outcomes and experiences that allow your practice to thrive.
Tips & Tricks for a Successful Dual Scan
Dual scans with a CBCT scanner can transform dental implant procedures, and mastering this technique is vital for optimal patient outcomes. Here are five practices that can help ensure a successful CBCT dual scan.
#1 Ensure Dentures Are Radiolucent
The denture you scan must be completely radiolucent to prevent scatter and artifacts in the scan. Ensure it does not contain metal, which can affect the scan's clarity and accuracy.
#2 Hard Reline Dentures
To ensure the best fit at the exact moment of scanning, you must hard reline the patient’s dentures. A reline improves the internal fitting surface of the denture, enhancing its adaptability to the patient's mouth and providing the most accurate reference point.
#3 Place Markers Strategically
Apply the fiduciary markers onto the denture in a zig-zag positioning. This placement helps prevent them from lining up in a straight line, which could impact the accuracy of the scan.
#4 Use a Foam Block
When taking the denture-only scan, rest the denture on a foam block to minimize movement and create a distance between the bite plate and the denture. This technique helps to avoid artifacts and scatter in the scan.
#5 Mind The Gap
If a patient has a denture on one arch and natural teeth on the opposing arch, scan the patient with a few millimeters gap between the denture and the natural teeth. This separation can help minimize scatter and artifacts in the scan.
Achieving Excellence with CBCT Dual Scans
Following the strategies we've outlined in this guide will significantly enhance the accuracy of your dual scans, creating a robust foundation for superior implant placement. Through the precise and effective method of a CBCT dual scan, you can revolutionize implant placement, ensure high-quality patient outcomes, and set your practice apart.
At Dental Science, we provide practices like yours with the most up-to-date and advanced CBCT scanners on the market. Partner with us to elevate the level of care you can provide to your patients.