Imaging
- Q How do I prepare my patient for a CBCT scan?
- A Our scanning service has been designed to be as straightforward as possible for patients. You may advise your patient that CBCT scans are at a very low radiation dose and will provide you with optimal images to aid diagnosis. They will be sitting down and the scanning panel will rotate about their head and neck. The entire process (including waiting time, if any) should take no longer than 20 minutes. The scan itself takes a matter of seconds. It is important to reassure patients who are prone to claustrophobia: all our scanners are “open” and upright, rather than the conventional tunnel-like CT scanners, minimising patient apprehension. If you are not providing your patient with a specific appliance to wear during the scan (for example a dental stent) you will only need to emphasise to your patient the importance of staying still during the scan. If you are providing a dental stent for your patient to wear, please ensure that it fits the patient well. There are different protocols to make the stent associated with different planning software platforms: for example NobelGuide protocol, Simplant protocol. It is important to make sure that you and your technicians are following the instructions that correspond to the system you wish to use.
- Q Who will interpret the images?
- A The IR(ME)R 2000 regulations require that a clinical evaluation of each medical exposure must be made and recorded, i.e. the images must be recorded or ‘read’. When you request the examination you must also ensure that the images are evaluated either by yourself or a Radiologist if the scanned area includes anatomical structures that are beyond what you are qualified to assess.
- Q I need my scan data urgently, what are my options?
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A If you need the scan to be processed urgently please tell us and we can provide your patient with a disk in the free viewing software (please note this does not apply to reformats such as Simplant) if they are seeing you shortly afterwards.
The data can also be sent using the secure web transfer service, you will need to be a web user for this.We can also courier the disk to you (depending on where you are based) though there may be an extra charge for this.
Referrals & Payment
- Q Can I request a CT scan before the patient comes to see me?
- A In general, no. The IR (ME) R referrers must be able to state the medical question that the CT scan is designed to answer (e.g. ‘dental implants indicated –bone thickness required’). This implies that the referrer is familiar with the patient’s clinical history.
- Q How do I pay?
- A On the referral form you should indicate if you would prefer that the patient pay directly, or for the account to be sent to your practice. If the patient is to pay, payment will be taken on the day, unless there has been prior authorisation from their insurer (our service is recognised by most insurers). To apply for a referrer account, please use the contact form on the right.
- Q How much will it cost?
- A Please contact us for pricing for our extensive range of examinations and software options.
Help and Advice
- Q Can I get training on software that I will use to view my patient’s examination?
- A The Free Viewers provided with your patient’s scan, digital radiograph or 3D photograph offer many tools to help you to get the most out of the images. We are happy to go through the software features with you over the telephone, connecting to your computer remotely, or in person at your practice or your nearest Cavendish Imaging centre free of charge. We can arrange a comprehensive one-to-one tutorial for those new to the software and also answer specific questions that established users may have. We can also arrange group training sessions at our London and Birmingham conference facilities.
- Q Can I visit the Cavendish Imaging centres?
- A Yes and you are most welcome to either come on your own, with colleagues or with your patient. Please give us a call to let us know when this would be convenient for you.
- Q What guidelines regarding ionising radiation, CT and CBCT are available?
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A The Ionising Radiation (Medical Exposure) Regulations 2000, IR (ME) R 2000, are concerned with the protection of persons undergoing medical exposures in Great Britain. In particular, they require that all medical exposures to ionising radiation must go through a referral and justification process prior to the exposure and that a clinical evaluation of the results must be made and recorded after the exposure. All healthcare professional (including dentist and surgeons) must follow this procedure regardless of whether they are taking x-rays in their own surgery or sending the patient to an imaging centre for a CT scan. Cavendish Imaging works under these regulations and therefore will ask you for all X-ray based examinations for a referral form that includes the Purpose and Area of the Examination. It will also offer you to have your scan reported by a radiologist.
The Department of Health’s publication http://www.doh.gov.uk/irmer.htm provides an overview of the Regulations and also contains some notes on good practice. The IPEM documents http://www.ipem/org.uk/publications/IRR99.html contain a comprehensive set of Medical and Dental Guidance Notes.Further guidelines can be found on our Documents and Downloads page.