Diagnostics

This is the most accurate diagnostic method used in modern dentistry. This digital 3D image obtained shows a realistic view of the upper and lower jaws and the areas around them.

We use dental cone beam computed tomography when the 2D image of a regular dental X-ray is not enough – for example, before implant surgery.

Advantages of cone beam computed tomography:

• Accurate diagnostics. Cone beam computed tomography is the most accurate diagnostic tool currently known. The digital image obtained with the scanner allows us to see a 3D image of the jaw.
• We measure the bone width, density and position of the maxillary sinus, and see the anatomical structures in the 3D image.
• With the help of the 3D image, we can ascertain the exact internal structure of the tooth, the number of roots and canals and their length, direction, shape and arrangement, and determine the position of the teeth as well as any damage or pathologies they might have.
• The software makes it possible to place the implants virtually, work out how long they should be and perform many other calculations and prepare for treatment.

All this allows us to draw up an individual treatment plan for implantation, endodontic treatment and other procedures. After everything is calculated and ready on the computer screen, all that needs to be done is to implement the carefully considered treatment plan in the dental chair.

What do I need to know about getting a computed tomography scan?

• The cone beam computed tomography scan at our clinic takes from a few seconds to less than a minute.

• During the scan, you will have to stand still while the scanner moves around your head.

• After the scan, there are no restrictions on activities, so you can continue with your daily routine.

According to the Radiation Protection Centre (RPC), the annual exposure of Lithuanian residents is determined by naturally occurring (radionuclides found in the Earth, ionising radiation from space, radionuclides in building materials, radon, a radioactive gas that escapes from the ground etc.) and medical (from diagnostic tests on patients using ionising radiation) radiation sources. Other factors determining exposure (activities with sources, radionuclides emitted into the environment from economic entities using sources and radionuclides present in food, drinking water, etc.) have less impact.

The average ionising radiation exposure worldwide is 2.9 millisieverts (mSv), and ranges from 1 mSv to 10 mSv per year, depending on the country (a millisievert is a calculated dose unit equivalent that reflects the biological effects of exposure). The second largest contribution to total exposure is exposure received during medical procedures, which is equal to 0.5 mSv per year on average.

In dentistry, the dose of ionising radiation received during a cone beam computed tomography examination is comparable to the natural radiation exposure accumulated over a period of 1-5 days.

In recent years, we have begun using many measures to reduce exposure. Computed tomography manufacturers have developed machines that provide excellent quality diagnostic images while exposing the person to a lower dose of radiation.

Therefore, you should not worry about the radiation you will get during the scan – precise and high-quality treatment that resolves your problem will bring much more benefits to you and your health than the harm from the scan itself.

These X-rays are also called “orthopantomograms”. They give a panoramic view of the upper and lower jaws and sinuses.

These are X-ray of one or more teeth that show the current situation in detail, for example, the size of the caries, the length and location of the roots, inflammation of the root canal and so on.

These are lateral X-rays that we use for orthodontic treatment.

Diagnostic dental models made of gypsum are intended for orthodontic treatment. Our clinic’s laboratory produces them according to the patient’s dental impressions. These models help to better assess the bite of the teeth, their position in the arches, proportions and so on. We look at the diagnostic models at the end of the treatment to evaluate the change – the treatment outcome.

This digital camera magnifies the image up to 100 times, so we can more accurately see the current situation and visually introduce you to it.

CarieScan PRO™.

This device detects early changes in the teeth in relation to caries. Early diagnosis makes it possible to prevent more serious dental damage.

Treating teeth requires extreme care and precision, so we use image magnification equipment – a microscope. It makes our work easier and allows us to provide you with even more precise and high-quality treatment. At our clinic, we use the advanced Leica M320 dental microscope, which magnifies the image from 6.4 to 40 times.

Microscope applications:

• Root canal treatment (endodontics).
• Dental fillings, restoration.
• Surgery: implantation, periodontics.
• Micro-prosthetics.

Root canal treatment.

Care and diligence are required when treating dental canals. The canals are not easily accessible and it is difficult to demonstrate their condition to the patient, so the patient often does not know what is happening during the treatment. The technologies that we use at our clinic allow us to show a full HD resolution image directly from your mouth and photograph the dental canals.

Dental fillings and restoration.

With the help of a microscope, we very carefully file the parts of enamel or dentine that are invisible to the naked eye and are damaged by caries, and then fill them. Dental restoration with the help of a microscope allows us to accurately restore the former shape of the tooth and guarantees a flawless aesthetic image after the procedure.

Microsurgery.

In microsurgical operations such as dental implants, gingivoplasty and so on, it is precision that determines how you will feel after the operation. Through constant monitoring and control of the operation with a microscope, we minimise the discomfort you feel after operations like these, and the operated area heals faster.

Prosthetic restoration.

The microscope helps our clinical dental technologist not only to prepare crowns or dental bridges that fit perfectly, but also to maximally protect adjacent tissues. We rely on the microscope to check our calculations and evaluate the quality of the work done. The end result is a top quality crown, dental bridge or veneer, and your perfect smile.

Our dentist will decide what diagnostics you need. Depending on the case, the dentist may prescribe one or several tests.