Finding the right tests…
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Finding the right tests…
CBCT
A CBCT paranasal sinus scan images the air-filled spaces around your nose and cheekbones, the maxillary, frontal, and ethmoid sinuses, in a single 3D pass. Doctors order it when chronic sinus symptoms need a closer look, or before sinus surgery, when the surgeon needs to see the shape of the sinus cavities and their bony walls beforehand. Because the upper back teeth sit close to the maxillary sinus floor, this scan sometimes turns up dentally related sinus findings even when ordered for another reason, which is why the whole scan gets reviewed, not just the area of immediate concern. It is centred on bone and air-filled space rather than the soft tissue detail a medical CT might add.
The scan covers the maxillary, frontal, and ethmoid sinuses along with the bony walls between them, showing thickened lining, blockage, or bony changes. Your doctor reviews it for findings tied to chronic sinus symptoms or as part of planning before sinus surgery, alongside your reported symptoms and exam findings.
The sinuses are air-filled spaces inside the bones around your nose and eyes, and when they don't drain properly, that can mean ongoing congestion, facial pressure, or repeated infections. A scan of this area shows whether the lining is thickened, whether a passage looks blocked, or whether the bony walls themselves have changed shape.
This scan is used for chronic sinus symptoms that haven't settled with treatment, and before sinus surgery, when the surgeon needs to map the exact anatomy of the cavities and passages beforehand. It is also sometimes picked up incidentally on a scan ordered for another dental or jaw-related reason, since the maxillary sinus sits directly above the upper back teeth.
- Shows sinus lining thickness, blocked passages, and bony wall changes - Can pick up a dental cause behind sinus symptoms, since the roots of upper back teeth sit close to the sinus floor - Provides less soft tissue detail than a dedicated medical CT of the sinuses in some cases
Ask your doctor whether your symptoms and exam findings point toward a sinus cause, a dental cause, or both, and how this scan fits into working that out.
The floor of the maxillary sinus sits close to the roots of your upper back teeth, so a dental problem in that area can affect the sinus, and a sinus scan taken for dental reasons can also reveal sinus findings.
It's a related but distinct type of scan, generally centred on bone and air-filled space. Your doctor decides which one fits the question they're asking, dental-related or a broader ENT work-up.
It can show findings like thickened lining or blocked passages that relate to chronic symptoms, but your doctor combines this with your history and exam to reach a diagnosis.
You may be asked to remove jewellery, glasses, or a removable dental appliance near your face. Check with your doctor or the centre for anything specific to your visit.
This page is general information about the test, not medical advice. Your own report's reference ranges apply — please discuss your results with your doctor.
Yes, surgeons commonly review a scan like this beforehand to map the exact shape of the sinus cavities and passages before operating.
It can capture the roots of the upper back teeth near the sinus floor, since they sit close together, but it is not built to review the whole mouth in detail.
You stay still while the scanner rotates around your head in a single pass. Ask the centre for the exact time on the day of your scan.