What panoramic and 3D dental imaging are, and who they suit
Dentists use several kinds of X-ray. Each one answers a different question.
- Small intraoral X-rays (bitewing and periapical) show a few teeth in fine detail. They are still the usual first choice for checking decay or a single painful tooth.
- A panoramic X-ray (OPG) is one flat image of both jaws, all the teeth, the jaw joints and the lower part of the sinuses. The machine rotates around your head while you stand still. It is often used for a general overview, for wisdom teeth, before orthodontic planning, or when several teeth are missing.
- Cone beam CT (CBCT) produces a three-dimensional image. The dentist can scroll through the bone in thin slices and view it from any angle. CBCT is usually kept for cases where a flat image is not enough, for example:
- planning implants, where the height and width of bone and the position of nerves and sinuses matter
- wisdom teeth that lie close to the nerve in the lower jaw
- root canals with unusual anatomy
- a suspected root fracture
- cysts or other changes in the jaw
Mainstream guidance, such as that of the ADA and European radiation-protection bodies, follows two rules:
- An X-ray should be taken only when its result will change a decision about your care.
- The image chosen should be the lowest dose that can answer the question.
A panoramic X-ray carries a low radiation dose. A CBCT scan carries more than a panoramic X-ray, but usually less than a conventional medical CT. That is why CBCT is not a routine check-up tool. Whether any image suits you is decided by the dentist after examining you.
Signs that call for an examination — and when it is urgent
Book a dental examination if you notice any of these:
- toothache that keeps coming back, or pain when biting
- swelling or a pimple-like bump on the gum
- pain, swelling or trouble opening your mouth around a back (wisdom) tooth
- loose teeth, or gums that bleed persistently
- a missing tooth you are thinking of replacing with an implant
- a knock or injury to the teeth or jaw
The dentist decides after the examination whether any imaging is needed.
Get urgent care, not a routine appointment, if you have:
- facial swelling that is spreading, or swelling under the jaw or around the eye
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- a high fever together with dental pain or swelling
- a facial injury with heavy bleeding, or a jaw that will not close properly
In these situations call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. Imaging can wait until you are safe.
How the steps usually go, from examination to follow-up
1. Examination and history. Tell the dentist about your symptoms and medical conditions. Mention any recent dental X-rays or scans, and whether you are or might be pregnant. 2. Choosing the image. The dentist explains which image is needed and why. Sometimes this is a small X-ray, sometimes a panoramic, and only sometimes CBCT. For CBCT, a smaller scanned area means a lower dose, so the dentist should limit it to the region in question. 3. Preparation. No fasting or injection is needed. Before the image you will be asked to remove: - earrings, necklaces and facial piercings - glasses and hearing aids - hairpins and other metal hair accessories - removable dentures or retainers
Tell the team if you find it hard to stay still or to stand. 4. Taking the image. You stand or sit and bite gently on a small guide. You keep still while the machine moves around your head. The exposure itself is short. 5. Reading the results. The dentist reviews the images and explains what they show and how they affect the plan. Ask for a copy for your records. 6. Follow-up. Treatment is planned based on the examination and images together. Repeat images are taken only if there is a clinical reason.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding
Always tell the dentist if you are pregnant or might be. Non-urgent imaging, such as routine scans or implant planning, is usually postponed until after the pregnancy.
If you have pain or infection that needs diagnosing, mainstream guidance generally considers dental X-rays acceptable during pregnancy. The beam is aimed at the head, and the dose reaching the abdomen is very small. Advice on lead aprons and thyroid collars differs between countries and has changed in recent years, so ask what the clinic does.
Dental X-rays do not affect breast milk.
What Arafat Dental Clinics publishes about this service in Amman
This section repeats only what the clinic and dentist records on ClinicsJo contain.
The clinic
- Imaging listed: "Dental cone beam computed tomography" and "Dental panoramic X-ray (OPG)", among 120 published services.
- Main services: dental implants, orthodontic braces, veneers (Hollywood smile), teeth whitening and root canal treatment. Planning these often involves imaging.
- Location and status: Tabarbour, Amman. Established in 2022 and verified by the platform.
- Team named in the description: Dr Mohammad Arafat Hasan and Dr Alaa Fayez Hasan.
- Approach: treatment options are discussed according to examination findings and patient needs.
The dentist: Dr. Mohammad Arafat Hasan
- Experience: 15 years recorded, with practice in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
- Degree: Bachelor of oral and dental medicine and surgery from Damascus University.
- Courses and certificates:
- Advanced Implantology Course, International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), 2018
- Clear Aligners (Invisalign) Certification, Align Technology Academy, 2020
- Microscope-Assisted Endodontics, Jordanian Academy of Dentistry, 2022
- Services he provides include dental radiology, implants, root canal treatment, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics, prosthetics and dental emergencies.
- Languages: Arabic and English.
- Verification and consultation: verified by the platform. His record lists the first consultation as free.
Reviews
The clinic has 2 approved reviews and the dentist has 3, all averaging 5. These are small numbers, so give them limited weight.
What the record does not say
The record does not say whether scans are taken on site or which equipment is used. Ask about this when booking.
Questions to ask the dentist before starting
- Why do I need this image, and what decision will it help with?
- Is a panoramic or small X-ray enough, or do I really need CBCT? Why?
- Is the scan taken at the clinic, or will I be referred elsewhere?
- Can you use the X-rays or scans I already have?
- How large an area will the CBCT cover?
- Who reads the 3D scan, and will I get a written report and a digital copy?
- I am, or may be, pregnant. Should we wait, and what precautions do you take?
- My child needs an image. How do you keep the dose as low as possible?
- What will this cost? The cost depends on the examination and plan; ask before starting.
Aftercare and realistic expectations
There is no recovery time after a dental X-ray or CBCT scan. You can return to normal activities straight away, and no radiation stays in your body.
An image is a planning tool, not a full diagnosis on its own:
- Some problems do not show clearly on X-rays.
- Metal fillings, crowns and implants can blur parts of a CBCT scan.
- A scan sometimes reveals something unrelated to your complaint that needs follow-up.
Keep your images. Sharing them with any future dentist can avoid an unnecessary repeat.
Booking, getting there and opening hours
Address as recorded: دوار الصحفيين، مجمع التميمي ط1. This is Al Tamimi Complex at Journalists Roundabout, first floor, in Tabarbour, Amman. The clinic sees patients from across Amman.
Confirmed opening hours: Saturday to Thursday, 10:00–22:00. Friday is not listed.
Use the contact button on this page to book. Bring:
- any previous dental images
- a list of your medicines
- the reason you were advised to have imaging