Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the difference between this x-ray and the one’s my dentist takes?

3D x-rays provide better detail than regular 2D. It gives us a cross sectional image to view your tooth from different angles. 

Is this the same type of machine they use at the hospital?

Yes, except this is a dedicated dental CT unit. It uses less radiation than your standard CT machine.

Do I need to remove all my Jewelry?

You will be asked to remove earrings, tongue piercing, and any other metal that could get in the way of the image.

How long does the scan take? 

In total it can take about a minute.

Do I have to hold my breath the whole time?

No, you do not.

Why can’t I swallow during the scan? 

You will be asked to try not to swallow. Most patients do just fine. We try to reduce motion during the scan. Motion causes the image to become blurry and we want to get a nice image.

Can I use a thyroid shield?

You will be given a wrap-around shield, thyroid shields cannot be used for extraoral imaging because it causes the radiation to scatter off the shield and creates a bright artifact on the image. 

I am a cancer patient going through radiation treatment. Can you reduce the radiation dose?

Yes, our machine offers low dose imaging. This is a special feature that we offer to our cancer patients who are already receiving radiation treatment.

My child is getting a scan and is nervous. Can I come in the room with them?

You are welcome to come in when the tech is explaining how the scan works, but you will be instructed to step out before the exposure is made. 

Can I stay with my child in the room during the scan?

As a follow up to the previous question no one, not even family members are allowed in the room during the scan to assist. If your child or whoever you are accompanying cannot sit still on their own, we will not be able to perform the scan.

This is under the guidance of the state of Hawaii department of health indoor & radiological health branch. 

I already did a panoramic x-ray at another dentist office. Do I need to do it again?

Our machine offers both 2D and 3D x-rays. Panoramic x-rays are only 2D x-rays of the entire mouth. If you are coming in for an endodontic scan, or for implants, both scans are different and yes it will require you to get a separate scan. 

If I choose to do treatment somewhere else can I request a copy of my images? 

Yes, please let us know if you would like a copy and we can put it on a flash drive for you.

Why do I have to take multiple scans? Doesn't the machine capture all of my teeth? 

If you are coming in for root canal treatment on multiple teeth and they are not next to each other, we will have to separate it into multiple scans. We use endo mode which magnifies the tooth we are looking at. This helps our doctors too.

If I am pregnant can I still get the scan? 

Yes, we use very little radiation and you will be given a wrap around shield. If you are not comfortable you may consult with your OB first or opt out of getting the scan.