SAGA Dental Radiology
CBCT Scans for Dental Implant Planning
A 3D scan shows how much bone you have and where the structures to avoid are — before an implant is placed.
Why scan before an implant?
An implant goes into the bone, close to structures that must be protected. A CBCT scan shows the area in 3D and lets your implant dentist measure, before surgery, how much bone there is and what surrounds it.
What your dentist can check
- The height and width of the bone where the implant will go.
- The shape and angle of the ridge.
- In the lower jaw, the nerve canal and the mental foramen.
- In the upper jaw, the floor of the sinus and of the nose.
- The roots of neighboring teeth and the space between them.
With that information, your dentist chooses the implant size and position and can tell whether the case needs extra steps, such as a bone graft or a sinus lift.
Files for digital planning
Depending on the study, we deliver DICOM files that load into implant planning software, plus images and a viewer. For guided surgery, an intraoral scan or digital models are usually needed as well, to merge with the CBCT; check with the treating dentist which files the case requires.
For referring implant dentists
Your patient can come straight in with the order — no prior consultation at SAGA. For specific protocols, message us the details before sending the patient. More about our referral process, and about dental implants at SAGA.
FAQ
CBCT for implants FAQ
Is a CBCT scan required for an implant?
That's your dentist's call. It's very common in implant planning because it gives 3D measurements a regular X-ray can't.
Which area is scanned?
The one your dentist specifies: a single site, or one or both arches, depending on the treatment plan.
Do you provide DICOM files?
Yes. Depending on the study, you get digital images, DICOM files and a viewer.
How much does it cost?
$1,200 MXN, the same as any CBCT scan.
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