A first examination
For a new patient, recent images from a previous dentist may be enough. If there are none, bitewings or a panoramic view give a baseline, chosen by what the examination finds.
Imaging, explained
Dental X-Rays and 3D CBCT Scans in Dubai
Each type of dental X-ray answers a different question. The right image is the one that answers yours with the lowest dose, and some questions need no X-ray at all.
- 3D CBCT for implant and surgical planning
- Radiation-free 3D intraoral scanning
- X-rays only when they change a decision
Bring any recent X-rays from another clinic. They may save you a repeat image.
Quick answer
What is the difference between a dental X-ray and a CBCT scan?
A standard dental X-ray is a flat, two-dimensional image of a few teeth or the whole mouth, used to find decay, infection and bone loss. A CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) scan builds a 3D image of the teeth and jaw, used mainly to plan implants and surgery. At Creative Arts in Dubai, CBCT is reserved for cases where 3D information changes the plan.
27 yearsIn-house dental laboratory in the same building
Written planItemised treatment plan before you commit
Open daily10:00–20:00, seven days a week
Jumeirah 3614 Jumeira St, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
At a glance
Dental X-rays and CBCT in brief
- What they are for
- Seeing what an examination cannot: between teeth, inside roots and in the bone
- Types
- Bitewing, periapical, panoramic (OPG) and 3D CBCT
- 3D imaging here
- CBCT for implant and surgical planning; intraoral 3D scanning (no radiation) for records
- How long it takes
- Seconds to take; a CBCT takes a little longer to position
- Radiation
- Low for 2D dental X-rays; higher for CBCT, so it is used only when justified
- Pregnancy
- Tell us first; routine X-rays are usually postponed
- Who decides
- Your dentist, based on your symptoms, history and risk
Every image should answer a clinical question. If you are unsure why an X-ray is being taken, ask; you are entitled to an explanation.
Types of dental X-ray
Bitewing, periapical, OPG or CBCT: what does each one show?
The image is chosen for the question. A bitewing cannot show an abscess at the root tip, and a panoramic view is not detailed enough to find small decay between teeth.
| Image | What it shows | Typically used for | Relative dose |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitewing | Crowns of upper and lower back teeth together, and the bone level between them | Decay between teeth, leaking fillings, early bone loss | Very low |
| Periapical | One or two whole teeth, from the biting edge to the root tip | Toothache, abscess, root canal treatment, cracked or injured teeth | Very low |
| Panoramic (OPG) | Both jaws, all teeth, the jaw joints and sinuses in one wide image | Wisdom teeth, orthodontic planning, overview for new patients with many problems | Low |
| CBCT (3D) | Bone height and width, nerve and sinus position, root shape in three dimensions | Implant planning, impacted teeth, complex extractions, cysts, some root canal cases | Higher than 2D; depends on the size of the area scanned |
| Intraoral 3D scan | The surface of teeth and gums (not an X-ray) | Records, crowns, veneers, aligners, surgical guide design | None |
Doses vary with the machine, settings and scan size; these are relative comparisons, not figures for any single image.
When they are needed
When do you actually need a dental X-ray?
There is no fixed rule that every visit includes X-rays. These are the situations where an image usually changes what happens next.
Decay risk
Bitewings repeat at intervals set by your risk: more often if you get new cavities, much less often if you have not had decay for years. See what a dental check-up includes.
Pain or swelling
A periapical X-ray shows whether infection has reached the root tip and helps decide between a filling, root canal treatment or extraction.
Wisdom teeth and impacted teeth
A panoramic view shows position; a CBCT is added when a root lies close to the nerve or an impacted tooth needs 3D location.
Implants and bone grafts
CBCT measures the bone and locates the nerve and sinus before an implant is placed. It is the basis of 3D-guided implant planning.
Radiation
How much radiation is in a dental X-ray?
Two-dimensional dental X-rays use a small dose. A pair of bitewings is often compared to roughly a day of the natural background radiation everyone receives from the environment, and a panoramic image to a few days. These are rough comparisons, but they show why a justified dental X-ray is considered low risk.
A CBCT scan uses more radiation than a 2D X-ray, and the amount depends a great deal on the size of the area scanned. A small field covering two or three teeth uses far less than a scan of both jaws. That is why a CBCT should be ordered for a specific purpose, such as planning an implant, and cropped to the area that purpose requires.
Three principles keep your dose low: justify every image (it must change a decision), avoid repeats (bring X-rays from your previous dentist), and use the smallest image that answers the question. A 3D intraoral scan uses light, not X-rays, so it can be repeated freely for records, crowns, veneers and aligners.
Special situations
Dental X-rays in pregnancy, for children and for frequent visitors
Most people can have a justified dental X-ray without concern. These situations call for a conversation first.
Usually fine when justified
- Adults with symptoms such as pain, swelling or a broken tooth
- Children, with intervals set by decay risk and fewer images than adults
- Patients planning implants, where CBCT replaces guesswork about bone and nerves
- New patients without recent images from another clinic
Tell us before any image is taken
- You are pregnant or may be: routine X-rays are usually postponed; urgent ones are weighed with you
- You had dental X-rays recently elsewhere: send them first to avoid repeating them
- You are asked for a CBCT without a clear reason: ask what decision it will inform
- You have had head and neck radiotherapy: your dentist needs that history
The CBCT scan
What happens during a 3D CBCT scan?
A CBCT scan is quick and does not involve any injection or tunnel. This is what to expect.
Reason confirmed
Your dentist explains what the scan should answer, for example bone width for an implant, and sets the scan size to that area.
BeforeMetal removed
Earrings, glasses, hairpins and removable appliances are taken off because metal causes streaks on the image.
A minutePositioning
You sit or stand with your chin on a rest and your head held still. Keeping still matters more than anything else for a sharp image.
A few minutesThe scan
The arm rotates around your head once. You breathe normally and keep still until it stops.
SecondsReview with you
The dentist or surgeon goes through the 3D images on screen and explains what they mean for your plan.
Same or next visit
Your records
Can I get a copy of my dental X-rays or CBCT?
Your images are part of your dental record, and asking for a copy is reasonable, whether for a second opinion, treatment abroad or simply your own files. Recent images from another clinic are equally useful to us: they can show how a problem has changed over time, which a single new image cannot. If you are comparing treatment plans, our guide to getting a second opinion explains what records to bring, and the guide on choosing an implant dentist explains why a CBCT-based plan matters for implants. For everyday care, see all general dentistry services.
Who treats you
Who reads your X-rays and CBCT scans
General dentists read routine X-rays at check-ups and urgent visits. CBCT scans for implants and surgery are reviewed by the dentist or surgeon who will plan the treatment.
Patient questions
Frequently asked questions
Are dental X-rays safe?
Dental X-rays use low doses of radiation, and a justified image is considered low risk. The risk that matters more is missing decay, infection or bone loss that only an X-ray can show. Good practice keeps the dose down: take an image only when it will change a decision, choose the smallest one that answers the question, and avoid repeating recent images from another clinic.
How often should I have dental X-rays?
It depends on your risk rather than a fixed calendar. Someone who gets new cavities may need bitewing X-rays every year or so; someone with no decay for years may go considerably longer. Children's intervals are also based on risk. Symptoms such as pain, swelling or a broken tooth justify an X-ray at any time.
Is a CBCT scan necessary before dental implants?
For most implant cases, yes. A CBCT scan shows bone height and width, and the position of the nerve in the lower jaw and the sinus in the upper jaw, in three dimensions. A flat X-ray cannot measure bone width at all. The scan is what makes digital planning and a 3D-printed surgical guide possible, where the case calls for one.
Can I have dental X-rays while pregnant?
Tell the dentist if you are or might be pregnant. Routine X-rays, such as check-up bitewings, are usually postponed until after the pregnancy. If you have a dental problem that needs diagnosis, such as an infection, the dentist will discuss whether an X-ray is needed and why. Untreated dental infection is also a risk, so the decision is made with you.
What is the difference between an OPG and a CBCT scan?
An OPG (panoramic X-ray) is a single flat image showing all the teeth and both jaws, useful for an overview or wisdom teeth. A CBCT scan is three-dimensional, so it shows depth and width and the exact position of nerves, sinuses and roots. CBCT uses more radiation and is used when that 3D information changes the treatment plan.
Is an intraoral 3D scan an X-ray?
No. An intraoral scanner is a small camera wand that records the shape of the teeth and gums using light. It involves no radiation, so it can be used freely for records, crowns, veneers, aligners and surgical guide design. It shows surfaces only, so it does not replace an X-ray for decay or infection inside the tooth or bone.
Can I bring dental X-rays from another clinic in Dubai?
Yes, and please do. Recent X-rays or a CBCT scan from another clinic can save you a repeat image and show how a problem has changed over time. Digital files are easiest. Your dentist will still decide whether a new image is needed, for example if the old one is several years out of date or does not show the area in question.
Keep exploring
Related treatments
General dentistryGeneral dentistry in DubaiEveryday care, from check-ups to fillings and cleanings.Check-upDental check-up and consultationWhere routine X-rays fit into an examination.Implants3D-guided implant surgeryHow a CBCT scan becomes an implant plan and a printed guide.GuideHow to choose an implant dentistWhy CBCT planning is one of the first things to ask about.HoursDentist open every dayBook an examination or X-rays on any day, 10:00–20:00.
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- Address614 Jumeira St, Jumeirah 3, Umm Suqeim 1, Dubai
- Opening hoursClinic open daily, 10:00–20:00
- Phone+971 4 342 4444 · WhatsApp +971 56 677 7537
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