CBCT volumes are stored as DICOM and read in dedicated viewing and planning software. Implant planning and AI segmentation tools depend on clean DICOM import.
How it differs from 2D imaging
A panoramic or intraoral X-ray is a flat projection. CBCT reconstructs a volume that can be sliced in any plane, showing bone width, nerve position and root anatomy. The field of view ranges from a few teeth to the whole skull.
Software around CBCT
Viewing software ships with the unit. Implant planning software merges the volume with a surface scan to design a surgical guide. AI segmentation tools label teeth, nerves and bone automatically. All depend on exporting the volume as standard DICOM.
Field of view: the choice that matters most
CBCT machines are sold by how much of the head they capture. A smaller field of view means a smaller scan area, less radiation and a sharper image of a limited region; a larger one captures both jaws or more. Many machines offer several settings.
| Field of view | What it covers | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Small | A few teeth or one quadrant | Endodontics, a single implant site, an impacted tooth |
| Medium | One full arch or both arches | Implant planning, orthodontics, extractions of third molars |
| Large | Both jaws, airway and joints | Orthognathic cases, airway analysis, TMJ evaluation, complex surgery |
Machine specifications vary. The exact fields of view and voxel sizes are in each manufacturer’s datasheet.
What CBCT is used for
Implant planning is the largest use: bone height and width, the path of the inferior alveolar nerve and the sinus floor. Endodontists use small fields to find missed canals, fractures and periapical lesions. Surgeons plan third-molar removal and pathology; orthodontists check impacted teeth, root position and airway.
A CBCT scan is not a routine radiograph. Dental organizations advise that exposure should be justified by a clinical question that a 2D image cannot answer, and that the smallest suitable field of view is chosen.
Radiation and safety
CBCT delivers more radiation than an intraoral X-ray or a panoramic image and, depending on settings, usually less than a medical CT scan. Dose varies widely with field of view, resolution and the machine, so compare the dose figures for the settings you will actually use.
Radiation safety requirements, including shielding, registration of the equipment and operator qualifications, are set by each state or province. Check them with your regulator before installing a unit.
Coding and billing CBCT
CDT has separate codes for CBCT by area and by whether the practice captures the image and interprets it, or only one of the two. Capture with interpretation is billed under D0364 to D0368 (limited field, mandible, maxilla, both jaws, temporomandibular joint series). Capture alone uses D0380 to D0384, and interpretation by a different practitioner is D0391.
Dental insurance often pays CBCT only for certain indications or not at all, so confirm benefits and obtain consent and an estimate before scanning.
What to look for in CBCT software
Check that the viewer opens the volume as standard DICOM, that planning software accepts the file, that you can export for a specialist without a fee, and that the software works offline if your internet fails. AI tools that segment teeth and the nerve canal need clean DICOM and consistent orientation.
Also ask how long volumes are stored and where: a single scan is a large file, and storage costs and backups add up for a busy practice.
Go deeper
FAQ
What does CBCT stand for?
Cone-beam computed tomography. The machine rotates around the head while a cone-shaped X-ray beam captures many images, which software rebuilds into a 3D volume.
What is the difference between a CBCT and a panoramic X-ray?
A panoramic image is a flat picture of both jaws. A CBCT is a three-dimensional volume you can slice in any direction, which shows bone width, nerve position and root shape.
How much does a dental CBCT scanner cost?
Prices vary with the field of view and features. Machines suited to implant and endodontic work generally cost tens of thousands of dollars, and large-field units cost more. Our CBCT software page lists the viewing and planning tools that go with them.
Does CBCT need special software?
The machine ships with viewing software, and many practices add planning software for implants or AI tools. All depend on exporting the volume as DICOM.