Finding the right tests…
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Emergency services available 24 x 7
Finding the right tests…
CBCT
A CBCT TMJ scan images the temporomandibular joint, the hinge just in front of each ear where your lower jaw connects to your skull. It's ordered when jaw pain, clicking, locking, or limited jaw opening points to a possible joint problem, giving a 3D view of the bony parts of the joint that a flat X-ray or a physical exam alone cannot provide. The scan shows the joint's bone surfaces clearly, including flattening, small bony growths, or wear, but shows the soft cartilage disc inside the joint far less clearly than an MRI does. Because of that, this scan usually answers the bone half of a TMJ work-up, with an MRI added separately if the disc itself needs checking.
The scan covers the jaw joint on one or both sides, showing the bony surfaces of the joint, including the condyle and the socket it sits in. Your dentist or doctor reviews it for bone-level changes such as flattening, wear, or small bony growths tied to jaw pain, clicking, or limited opening.
The temporomandibular joint sits just in front of each ear, working like a hinge and a slide together whenever you chew, talk, or open your mouth. When it hurts, clicks, or locks, your dentist or doctor may want to see the joint's bone surfaces directly rather than relying on how it feels or sounds on exam.
This scan gives a clear 3D picture of the joint's bony parts, the condyle and the socket it moves within. It can pick up flattening, small bony growths, erosion, or other wear-related changes that build up over time in a joint under strain.
- The soft cartilage disc inside the joint is not well seen on this scan - Soft tissue inflammation or disc displacement is generally better assessed with an MRI - A scan showing normal bone does not rule out a soft tissue problem inside the joint
Because bone and soft tissue need different types of imaging, your dentist or doctor may order this scan first for the bone picture and add an MRI later if the soft tissue disc still needs a closer look. Ask them which part of the joint they are checking with this scan.
It can show bone-level changes in the joint that sometimes relate to clicking, but clicking is often caused by the soft cartilage disc, which this scan does not show as clearly as an MRI.
Sometimes. This scan is best at showing the joint's bone, while an MRI is better for the soft tissue disc inside it. Your dentist or doctor decides based on your symptoms.
Not always, but persistent pain, clicking, or locking is worth having checked. Your dentist or doctor can tell you whether imaging is needed based on your specific symptoms.
That depends on your symptoms. Ask your dentist or doctor whether one side or both sides are being imaged for your case.
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.
You may be asked to hold your mouth in a specific position, such as open or closed, depending on what your dentist or doctor wants to see. The technologist will guide you.
A regular X-ray can hint at joint changes but doesn't show the joint's 3D shape clearly. This scan gives a much clearer view of the bony joint surfaces.
This scan is centred specifically on the jaw joint, while a full scan covers both jaws and the teeth more broadly. Your dentist orders the one that fits the specific question.