Cone Beam CT 3D Dental Imaging
 If your oral surgeon has recommended cone beam CT 3D dental imaging in Pullman, WA or Lewiston, ID, Oral & Facial Surgery uses this advanced scan to plan surgery with a level of detail a flat X-ray cannot show.
A cone beam CT scan, often shortened to CBCT, captures a three-dimensional view of your teeth, jawbone, nerves, and sinuses in a single quick pass.
For surgical procedures such as implant placement, tooth extractions, and bone grafting, seeing your anatomy in three dimensions changes how carefully we can plan. Our dental technology includes both digital X-rays and CBCT imaging, and our doctors use the 3D view to map the exact position of the structures we need to protect during your procedure.
If you have questions about radiation or what the scan feels like, you are not alone. A CBCT scan is fast, you stay comfortably seated or standing while the scanner rotates around your head once, and the focused beam keeps your exposure low compared with older imaging methods.
On This Page
What Is Cone Beam CT 3D Dental Imaging?
 Cone beam CT imaging is a form of digital radiography that produces a three-dimensional picture of your oral and maxillofacial anatomy. Instead of the single flat image a traditional X-ray records, a CBCT scan reconstructs your teeth, bone, nerve pathways, and sinus spaces as a volume our doctors can rotate, slice, and measure on screen.
We use this imaging strictly for dental and surgical planning. The scan shows the parts of your mouth, jaw, and face that matter for your procedure, and we review those images directly with you so you understand what we see before any treatment is scheduled.
How CBCT Differs From a Standard X-ray
A standard digital X-ray is excellent for everyday checks, and it gives us a clear two-dimensional view of your teeth and roots. A cone beam CT scan adds depth. Because it captures the area from many angles in one rotation, we can judge the height and width of bone, the exact path of a nerve, and the position of a tooth that may be sitting at an awkward angle. When a flat X-ray leaves a question unanswered, the 3D scan usually answers it.
What a 3D Scan Helps Us Plan
The 3D view is most valuable ahead of surgery, where small details carry real consequences. For dental implants, the scan lets us measure available bone and steer clear of nerves and sinuses. Before wisdom teeth removal and other extractions, it shows how a tooth root relates to nearby nerves so we can plan a safer approach. And when bone volume is a concern, CBCT helps us decide whether bone grafting is needed and where. The same images feed directly into our computer-guided dental implant surgery planning.
Your Imaging and Surgical Team in Pullman and Lewiston
A 3D scan is only as useful as the surgeon reading it. Dr. Stephen W. Holm is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and served as chief resident during his oral and maxillofacial surgery residency at Carle Foundation Hospital, the only level-one trauma center in its region – full background on Dr. Holm’s bio page. That hospital training is where reading complex craniomaxillofacial anatomy becomes second nature.
Dr. Sherdon W. Cordova trained alongside Dr. Holm at Carle Foundation Hospital and went on to serve as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon in the United States Air Force at Sheppard AFB. Together our board-certified surgeons have planned and placed more than 10,000 dental implants, and 3D imaging guides that planning at both our Pullman and Lewiston offices. More on Dr. Cordova’s bio.
What to Expect During Your CBCT Scan
 The scan itself is one of the easiest parts of your visit. Here is how a typical appointment moves from imaging to a finished surgical plan.
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We position you for the scan - You sit or stand against a support, and we ask you to stay still while the scanner makes a single slow rotation around your head. There is nothing to insert into your mouth and nothing that touches you.
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We capture the images - The rotation takes only a matter of seconds. The focused beam records the data we need, and the scanner does the rest.
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We review the 3D view together - We pull your images up on screen, rotate through the areas that matter for your case, and explain what we are looking at in plain language.
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We build your surgical plan - Using the measurements from your scan, we map the safest path for your procedure before treatment day arrives, which means fewer surprises for you and for us. |
Most patients are surprised by how quick and undemanding the scan is, especially compared with the longer, enclosed scans used in a hospital setting.
Benefits of 3D Dental Imaging
The advantage of a 3D scan comes down to planning with certainty instead of estimating. When we can see your anatomy from every angle, we make better decisions before we ever begin treatment.
Precision is the headline benefit. Knowing the exact height and width of your bone lets us plan implant position down to the millimeter, and knowing where a nerve runs lets us route around it. That same detail supports our computer-guided implant surgery, where the plan we build from your scan directs placement.
Lower radiation is a real advantage of our digital approach. Because we run both digital X-rays and CBCT in our Pullman and Lewiston offices, we can choose the lowest-dose imaging that still answers the surgical question instead of sending you out for a hospital CT.
- Fewer surprises during surgery – Because the same surgeons who read your scan perform your procedure, the plan we map carries straight through to treatment day.
- Protection of nerves and sinuses – The 3D view shows our surgeons exactly which structures to route around before we begin.
- A single, fast scan – One quick rotation in our office replaces the guesswork that flat images leave behind.
For anxious patients especially, knowing that we have studied your anatomy in detail before treatment day can make the whole experience feel more predictable.
Why Choose Our Practice for 3D Imaging
We invest in both digital X-rays and cone beam CT imaging because surgical planning is only as good as the information behind it. Having this technology in our own offices means your imaging and your surgery stay with the same team, in Pullman and in Lewiston, rather than being scattered across separate providers.
Experience is what turns those images into a sound plan. Our doctors are board-certified oral and maxillofacial surgeons who trained together at a level-one trauma center, and they have applied 3D planning across tens of thousands of surgical cases in the Lewiston/Clarkston and Moscow/Pullman regions.
We also take the time to show you your own scan. Many patients have never seen the inside of their jaw in three dimensions, and walking through the images together tends to replace anxiety with a clear understanding of what comes next.
Cost and Insurance
Cost is a fair thing to ask about. Cone beam CT imaging is part of the diagnostic and surgical planning process, so what you pay depends on your individual case and the procedure being planned, such as implant placement, an extraction, or grafting.
Many dental and medical plans cover diagnostic imaging when it is needed for surgical planning, though coverage varies from policy to policy. We are happy to review your benefits and provide a clear estimate before any imaging is scheduled. Our team can also walk you through your insurance and financing options before you commit to a plan.
The most accurate way to understand your costs is a consultation, where we can see your specific situation and explain exactly what your treatment plan involves.
Schedule Your Imaging Consultation
Ready to plan your procedure with the detail it deserves? Call our Lewiston, ID office at 208-743-1640 or our Pullman, WA office at 509-330-5020. You can also request an appointment online. Our Lewiston office is at 444 Thain Rd, Lewiston, ID 83501. Our Pullman office is at 1256 Bishop Blvd Suite I, Pullman, WA 99163. Reach us through our Contact page with any questions before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a cone beam CT scan safe?
A dental CBCT scan delivers a low, focused dose of radiation, considerably less than a hospital medical CT of the same region, because the beam is concentrated only on the area we need to plan. We use it when the 3D detail genuinely improves your surgical safety, not as a routine substitute for an everyday X-ray. If you are pregnant or have specific health concerns, let us know in advance so we can plan accordingly.
Why do I need a 3D scan if I already had a regular X-ray?
A regular X-ray is flat, so it cannot show depth, and two structures that sit at different distances can appear stacked on top of each other. The 3D scan separates them, which matters when a nerve or sinus sits close to where we plan to work. In many cases the standard X-ray comes first, and we only add the CBCT scan when it answers a question the flat image leaves open.
Does the CBCT scan hurt or feel enclosed?
No. Unlike the long, tunnel-style scans some patients picture, a dental cone beam CT is open, and you stay seated or standing while the scanner rotates around your head once. Nothing enters your mouth and nothing presses on you. Patients who feel claustrophobic in medical scanners are usually relieved at how open and brief this scan is.
How long does a cone beam CT scan take?
The rotation that captures your images takes only a matter of seconds. Including positioning and a moment to review the results with you, the imaging portion of your visit is usually wrapped up in a few minutes, which is why it fits comfortably into a consultation appointment.
Does insurance cover cone beam CT imaging?
Many plans cover diagnostic imaging when it is medically necessary for surgical planning, but the specifics depend on your individual policy. We verify your benefits and give you a clear estimate before imaging is scheduled, and our insurance and financing options spell out how we work with your coverage.
How does the scan help with dental implants specifically?
For implants, the scan tells us whether you have enough bone to support the implant and exactly where the nerves and sinuses sit, so we can choose the right implant size and angle before treatment begins. That planning is what allows our computer-guided implant surgery to place the implant in the position we mapped in advance.
Can I have my scan done at either office?
We serve patients across the Lewiston/Clarkston and Moscow/Pullman regions from our Lewiston, ID and Pullman, WA offices, and we coordinate your imaging at the location handling your care. When you schedule, our team will confirm which office is best for your appointment and your follow-up surgery.
Why choose Oral and Facial Surgery for 3D imaging?
The practical reason is continuity. Because we keep imaging and surgery under one roof with the same board-certified surgeons, the team reading your scan is the team performing your procedure, with no handoff between providers. Our doctors trained together at a level-one trauma center and have applied 3D planning across tens of thousands of surgical cases. |
