Safety

How much radiation does a CBCT deliver?

A dental CBCT typically delivers 30–200 μSv of effective dose — roughly 5–30× a panoramic radiograph and 5–10× less than a head CT. Optimizing FOV and exposure is the lever.

Comparing CBCT dose to other imaging

Reference values from SEDENTEXCT and ICRP: panoramic 9–24 μSv, intraoral 1–5 μSv, small-FOV CBCT 19–100 μSv, medium-FOV 28–200 μSv, large-FOV 68–1,073 μSv, head CT ~1,500–2,000 μSv. Background radiation is roughly 8 μSv per day.

A 60 μSv CBCT is therefore equivalent to about a week of background, or about 6 panoramics. The justification calculus is whether the diagnostic information avoids worse outcomes — usually yes for surgical planning.

How to reduce dose without losing diagnostic value

Smallest FOV that answers the question. Use pulsed (not continuous) acquisition where the scanner offers it. Lower mA·s for child or adolescent patients (most scanners have a pediatric protocol). Avoid the highest-resolution voxel unless you need it for endo.

For follow-up scans, reuse the existing CBCT instead of re-imaging when clinically reasonable — a viewer that loads any prior study quickly enables this.

FAQ

Is CBCT safe for children?

Used judiciously, yes. Children are more radiosensitive, so use pediatric protocols, the smallest FOV possible and only when the diagnosis materially depends on it.

How does CBCT compare to a chest X-ray?

A chest X-ray is roughly 100 μSv. A typical dental CBCT is in the same order of magnitude or lower.

Should I record dose for each patient?

In several jurisdictions (EU, US states), yes. The DICOM Radiation Dose Structured Report (RDSR) captures it automatically when the scanner supports it.

Review priors before re-imaging

CBCTHub stores prior studies for instant access — sometimes the dose-saving move is to open the old scan instead of acquiring a new one.

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