Patient guide · Dental & maxillofacial imaging
Cone beam CT (CBCT), low-dose 3D imaging for dental, ENT and maxillofacial planning.
Cone beam CT (CBCT) uses a cone-shaped X-ray beam and flat-panel detector to acquire high-resolution 3D images of dental, sinus, temporal bone and maxillofacial structures at much lower dose than medical CT.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a consultant maxillofacial or ENT radiologist who reads dental, sinus and temporal-bone CBCT day in, day out.
- 02
Often answers same-day
Findings can frequently be discussed immediately, with the written report to follow.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
Cone beam CT, at a glance.
The six things worth knowing about CBCT before your appointment — what it is, what it shows, and where its limits are.
In short
CBCT gives sub-millimetre 3D bony detail at a much lower dose than medical CT — but it doesn’t replace MRI or CT for soft tissue.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Definition | 3D X-ray imaging using a cone-shaped beam and flat-panel detector. |
| Radiation dose | Substantially lower than medical CT for the same region. |
| Bone resolution | Sub-millimetre — the standard for fine bony detail. |
| Dental use | Standard for implants, orthodontics and endodontics. |
| ENT / maxillofacial use | Reports for sinus, temporal bone and TMJ. |
| Limitation | Cannot replace soft-tissue CT or MRI when soft tissue is the question. |
If you’re not sure whether CBCT is the right imaging for your question, ask us — we’ll check with a consultant maxillofacial or ENT radiologist and come back with a plain-English recommendation.
The problem
A CBCT is only as good as who reports it.
A general dentist can plan an implant from a good CBCT — but incidental sinus, temporal-bone or lesion findings need a specialist eye. We route your scan to a consultant maxillofacial, dental or ENT radiologist, not a generalist.
-
Planning an implant or ortho case?
We arrange a dose-optimised CBCT and a consultant-level report your surgeon can act on.
-
Sinus or temporal-bone question?
We match you to a maxillofacial or ENT radiologist who reports these day-to-day.
-
Follow-up or post-op review?
We fold the CBCT into a coherent picture — before, after, and what changed.
The journey
From consultation to report — what happens, in order.
One clinical pathway from your referring dentist, orthodontist or ENT to the consultant report.
Phase 1 · Before your scan
Consultation and preparation
Phase 2 · On the day
20–40 seconds of scanning
Phase 3 · After
Consultant report
- 01
Before
Dental, ENT or maxillofacial consultation
A specialist explains why CBCT is the right imaging step, and what the scan will answer.
- 02
Before
No preparation required
No fasting, no injections, no contrast. Come as you are.
- 03
On the day
Head positioned in the scanner
You sit or stand still; the head is stabilised so images stay sharp.
- 04
On the day
Scan takes 20–40 seconds
One quick pass. Most of the appointment is set-up, not scanning.
- 05
On the day
Cone-shaped beam rotates once
A single rotation captures a full 3D volume of the region of interest.
- 06
On the day
3D reconstruction available
Axial, coronal, sagittal and 3D reconstructions are built for the reporter.
- 07
After
Consultant report within 48 hours
A written report from the reporting consultant, with onward pathway if needed.
Scan time: 20–40 seconds. Report: within 48 hours.
What it shows
When a CBCT is the right test.
CBCT answers a specific bony question — from dental implants to sinus anatomy to the temporal bone. These are the presentations we see most.
-
Dental implant planning
Bone volume, quality and proximity to nerves and sinuses before implant placement.
-
Impacted teeth
Position of impacted canines and third molars, and their relation to adjacent roots.
-
Root fracture / periapical pathology
Vertical root fractures, periapical lesions and endodontic complications.
-
Sinus disease
Ostiomeatal complex anatomy, chronic sinusitis, mucosal thickening and anatomical variants.
-
Temporal bone anatomy
Ossicles, cochlea and semicircular canals for otological work-up.
-
TMJ pathology
Condylar morphology, degenerative change and asymmetry in temporomandibular joint disorders.
-
Airway analysis for OSA / orthognathic surgery
Upper airway volume and cross-section, useful in sleep and jaw-surgery planning.
-
Red flag: unexpected bony destruction — urgent maxillofacial / ENT review
Lytic or destructive lesions on CBCT need urgent specialist review, not a private-slot delay.
Next steps
Where CBCT fits in the treatment plan.
Once the CBCT is reported, these are the treatment or follow-up pathways it most commonly feeds into.
-
Dental implant surgery planning
Pre-surgical CBCT to map bone, nerves and sinuses for implant placement.
-
Orthodontic treatment planning
Assessment of impacted teeth, root positions and skeletal relationships for orthodontic plans.
-
Endodontic re-treatment
Detailed root anatomy and periapical disease before repeat root-canal therapy.
-
Functional endoscopic sinus surgery
Pre-FESS mapping of the ostiomeatal complex, ethmoids and anatomical variants.
-
Orthognathic surgery planning
Skeletal and dental relationships in 3D for jaw-repositioning surgery.
-
TMJ arthroscopy
Bony joint assessment ahead of temporomandibular joint intervention.
-
Sleep-medicine referral for airway
Upper-airway volumetric analysis to support obstructive sleep apnoea work-up.
-
Follow-up CBCT for post-treatment review
Post-implant, post-surgical or post-endodontic imaging to confirm the outcome.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London with current-generation CBCT and consultant reporting. Introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
-
Consultant maxillofacial, ENT or dental radiologists reporting CBCT day-to-day
-
Current-generation flat-panel CBCT scanners with dose-optimised protocols
-
Standardised reconstructions — axial, coronal, sagittal and 3D
-
Report available for your treating dentist, orthodontist, ENT or oral surgeon
Red flags
Findings that change the plan.
These CBCT findings are the ones that shift a routine dental or ENT pathway into an urgent specialist review.
-
Unexpected bony destruction
Any lytic or destructive bony lesion on CBCT needs urgent maxillofacial or ENT review — not a delayed follow-up.
-
Suspicious sinus mass
An unexpected sinus mass or aggressive-looking sinus opacity warrants urgent ENT assessment.
-
Odontogenic keratocyst
Keratocysts have a recurrence risk and are managed by oral / maxillofacial surgery, not the general dentist.
-
Post-traumatic maxillofacial injury
Facial trauma with suspected fractures needs an appropriate CT / CBCT pathway and specialist review.
-
Occult mandibular fracture
Non-displaced mandibular fractures picked up incidentally still need maxillofacial input.
-
Unexpected head-and-neck malignancy
Any concerning lesion suspicious of malignancy is an urgent head-and-neck referral.
-
Ossicular chain disruption
Temporal-bone CBCT can show ossicular disruption — an ENT / otology referral is the next step.
-
Extensive periapical infection
Widespread periapical disease may need combined endodontic and oral-surgery care.
-
Malocclusion needing multi-disciplinary plan
Complex malocclusion often needs orthodontic, restorative and surgical planning together.
Reading your report
A CBCT report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your dentist or surgeon, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and clinical question
Your details, the referring clinician, and the specific question the CBCT is being asked to answer.
- 02 Technique
Field of view and dose
Which region was scanned, at what field of view, and the reference dose used.
- 03 Findings
Dental, bony and sinus / temporal-bone
Structured description of teeth, bone, sinuses, TMJs and temporal bones as relevant.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
The bottom line for your dentist, orthodontist, ENT or oral surgeon — and the concrete next step.
Sources
The guidance we relied on.
Reviewed on 2026-07-30. Next review scheduled for 2027-07-30.
- British Orthodontic Society. Guidance on the use of cone beam CT in orthodontics.
- European Academy of Dental and Maxillofacial Radiology. Basic principles and recommendations on CBCT.
- Royal College of Radiologists. Guidance on the use of cone beam CT.
- American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. Clinical recommendations for CBCT.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about CBCT.
Quick answers on how CBCT differs from medical CT, safety, preparation, and where MRI takes over.
-
What is cone beam CT (CBCT)?
Cone beam CT uses a cone-shaped X-ray beam and a flat-panel detector to acquire a high-resolution 3D volume of a focused region — most commonly teeth, jaws, sinuses or the temporal bone — in a single rotation.
-
How is CBCT different from a medical CT scan?
CBCT uses a cone-shaped beam and flat-panel detector, delivering a substantially lower radiation dose for the same region and giving excellent bony detail. Medical CT is still preferred when soft-tissue characterisation matters.
-
Is CBCT safe?
CBCT uses ionising radiation, but at a much lower dose than medical CT for equivalent regions. Doses are dose-optimised to answer the specific clinical question — the smallest field of view that will do the job.
-
Do I need any preparation for a CBCT scan?
No preparation is required. There is no fasting, no injection and no contrast. You will be asked to remove metallic items (earrings, hairclips, dentures, hearing aids) that could interfere with the images.
-
Can CBCT replace an MRI of the head or sinuses?
No. CBCT is superb for bony anatomy but cannot reliably characterise soft-tissue disease. MRI or medical CT is preferred when soft tissue is the question — for example, suspected soft-tissue tumour or intracranial pathology.
-
How quickly will I get the report?
A written consultant report is typically available within 48 hours. Urgent findings — for example, unexpected bony destruction — are flagged to the referring clinician promptly so onward specialist review can be arranged.
Related tests
Looking for a different test?
-
CT scanning
Medical CT for soft-tissue and larger-field imaging.
Learn more -
MRI head and neck
Soft-tissue characterisation of the head and neck.
Learn more -
Astigmatism assessment
Precision refraction and corneal mapping for astigmatism.
Learn more -
All tests
Browse every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more -
Prostate Cancer
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Colorectal Cancer
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Cryoablation For Cancer
Related treatment option.
Learn more -
Colon Cancer Surgery
Related treatment option.
Learn more
In practice, in London
What cone beam CT scan cbct looks like on the ground in London
With cone beam CT scan cbct, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. The NHS route for cone beam CT scan cbct is thorough, but the queue is real. Most patients we speak with have been told to expect anywhere from a handful of weeks to several months, depending on their local trust and how the referral is graded. Going private in London usually collapses that window to a matter of days — often the same week if the diary allows. It isn’t about jumping a queue so much as buying time back while you still have the flexibility to plan around it.
Once you’re in the private system for cone beam CT scan cbct, the pace picks up noticeably. Consultant slots run to time, imaging is usually available in the same building or a short walk away, and the report comes back typed and detailed. It’s the coordination that tends to feel different — one person on the other end of the phone, not a switchboard. For cone beam CT scan cbct specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see cone beam CT scan cbct — but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.