When your jaw hurts, clicks or will not open the way it should, a regular exam tells a lot of the story. Sometimes Dr. Leon needs to see more, and that is where 3D imaging comes in. Tampa TMJ has an iCAT 3D (CBCT) scanner right in the office, so when your evaluation calls for it, the scan happens right here, with no trip to another office.
What a CBCT scan shows
A CBCT scan creates a three-dimensional picture of your jaw and the structures around it. It gives Dr. Leon a closer look at your jaw joints, your teeth, and other structures captured in the scan, including your nasal passages and airway. That matters for TMJ, because jaw pain can come from the joints, the bite and more, and it matters for sleep and airway care, too.
When Dr. Leon recommends one
Not everyone needs a scan. “I combine a detailed clinical evaluation with appropriate imaging when indicated,” says Dr. Doraida Leon. Like any X-ray, a CBCT scan uses radiation, so she recommends it when it will actually help your care: when your history and exam point to something the scan can clarify, or when your plan depends on seeing the joints and airway in 3D.
What it is like
You stay comfortable and still for a short scan while the machine moves around your head. Afterward, Dr. Leon goes over what the images show in plain language, in English or Spanish, and explains how they shape your plan.
Start with your evaluation
Imaging is one part of a thorough first visit. Book a TMJ evaluation or call (813) 772-4563, and see 3D imaging in our office and everything Tampa TMJ offers. Tampa TMJ is at 3911 West Waters Avenue, Suite 4, in Tampa.
Questions patients ask
Is a CBCT scan the same as a medical CT scan?
Both create 3D images, but a dental CBCT is built to image the jaw, teeth and nearby structures, and Tampa TMJ has one right in the office.
Will I need a scan at my first visit?
Not necessarily. Dr. Leon recommends 3D imaging based on your evaluation, when it will help your care.
What can the scan show for TMJ?
A closer look at your jaw joints, teeth and other structures in the scan, including your nasal passages and airway.
Do I have to go somewhere else for it?
No. The iCAT 3D scanner is in the office, so the scan happens during your visit when it is recommended.
