What panoramic and 3D dental imaging are, and who they suit
Dentists use two main types of wider imaging beyond the small X-rays taken of one or two teeth.
The panoramic X-ray (OPG) is a single flat image of both jaws. It shows all the teeth, the surrounding bone, the jaw joints and the lower part of the sinuses. It gives a general overview and is often used to:
- check wisdom teeth
- follow how a child's adult teeth are developing
- look for bone loss, cysts or hidden infections
- support planning for orthodontic treatment
Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a 3D scan. The machine rotates around the head and builds a three-dimensional model. The dentist can view it in slices from any angle. CBCT is usually requested when a flat image cannot answer a specific question, for example:
- Before dental implants: to measure the height and width of the bone and to locate the nerve canal in the lower jaw or the sinus floor in the upper jaw.
- Wisdom teeth: when an impacted lower wisdom tooth may sit close to the nerve.
- Root canal treatment: in complex cases, such as suspected extra canals, cracks, a failed earlier treatment or a lesion that is hard to judge.
- Selected orthodontic or jaw cases: for example, teeth trapped in the bone.
Neither scan is a routine check-up test. Mainstream guidance says imaging should be justified by the examination, using the lowest radiation dose that gives the information needed. A CBCT scan usually involves more radiation than a panoramic image, though generally far less than a medical CT. So the dentist should explain why a 3D scan is needed rather than a 2D one.
Signs that call for an examination — and when it is urgent
The reasons you book an examination are usually the symptoms, not the X-ray itself. Imaging is then decided at the visit. See a dentist if you notice:
- toothache that lasts, or pain when biting
- swelling or soreness around a wisdom tooth, or trouble opening your mouth fully
- a tooth that had a root canal and is tender again
- loose teeth, receding gums or bleeding gums
- a gap you are thinking of filling with an implant
- a lump in the jaw, or numbness in the lip or chin
- in children, adult teeth that seem late to appear or are coming in out of place
Urgent warning signs need emergency care, not a scan appointment. These include:
- facial swelling that is spreading or reaching the eye or neck
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- high fever with dental pain
- a heavy blow to the jaw
Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
How the steps usually go, from examination to follow-up
### Examination and the decision to image The dentist takes your history, examines your teeth and gums, and decides which image, if any, is needed. Bring any recent X-rays or scans you already have, because these can sometimes avoid a repeat exposure.
### Preparation - Tell the team if you are or might be pregnant. Dental X-rays can be taken during pregnancy when they are needed for diagnosis or treatment, because the dose to the abdomen is very small. Non-urgent imaging, such as planning an elective implant, is often postponed. The dentist will weigh this with you. - Remove earrings, necklaces, piercings around the mouth, glasses, hair clips, hearing aids and removable dentures or retainers. Metal can blur the image. - Mention any earlier head or neck scans, and whether you find it hard to stay still.
### During the scan You stand or sit with your chin on a rest and bite gently on a small guide. The arm of the machine then rotates around your head. It is important to stay still. The exposure itself is short, usually well under a minute, and you feel nothing. Children are usually scanned with settings adjusted to their size.
### Reading the images and follow-up The dentist reviews the images with you and explains the findings. A CBCT scan covers a whole volume of bone and nearby structures, so the entire scan, not only the tooth in question, should be reviewed. Sometimes an unexpected finding leads to further assessment. The images then guide the treatment plan, for example implant position or how to approach a wisdom tooth.
What Arafat Dental Clinics publishes about this service in Tabarbour
This is what the clinic's record on ClinicsJo states.
About the clinic - Arafat Dental Clinics is in Tabarbour, Amman, in Al Tamimi Complex at Journalists Roundabout. - It was established in 2022 and is marked as verified by the platform. - Its imaging services listed for this topic are dental cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and the dental panoramic X-ray (OPG). - Its main services include dental implants, orthodontic braces, the Hollywood smile (veneers), teeth whitening and root canal treatment. In total, 120 services are published. - The description says treatment options are discussed according to examination findings and patient needs. It names Dr Mohammad Arafat Hasan and Dr Alaa Fayez Hasan as part of the team. - The clinic shows 2 approved reviews with an average rating of 5.
About Dr. Mohammad Arafat Hasan - He has 15 years of experience and holds a bachelor's degree in oral and dental medicine and surgery from Damascus University. - His listed further training: - an Advanced Implantology Course with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI), 2018 - Clear Aligners (Invisalign) Certification from Align Technology Academy, 2020 - Microscope-Assisted Endodontics with the Jordanian Academy of Dentistry, 2022 - His biography mentions dental practice in Jordan and Saudi Arabia. - Dental radiology is among the services he provides, along with implants, root canal treatment, oral and maxillofacial surgery, orthodontics and children's dentistry. - He speaks Arabic and English. His profile is verified and shows 3 approved reviews with an average rating of 5.
The record does not name the imaging equipment. If you searched for a 3D dental scan in Tabarbour, ask whether the scan is taken at the clinic itself.
Questions to ask the dentist before starting
- Why do I need this image, and would a panoramic or smaller X-ray be enough?
- Is the scan taken here, and who reads and reports the full CBCT volume?
- Can the scan field be limited to the area in question?
- I am, or might be, pregnant. Can this wait, and what precautions apply?
- Can older X-rays I bring be used instead of a new one?
- Will I receive a copy of the images and the report?
- How will the results change my treatment plan?
- What will the imaging and the following treatment cost?
Aftercare and realistic expectations
There is no physical aftercare. You can eat, drive and go back to work straight away, and no radiation stays in your body.
Images are a planning tool, not a treatment. They improve what the dentist can see, but they do not guarantee how a treatment will turn out. Some findings need further tests or a referral. Keep your digital copies, because sharing them in future can avoid an unnecessary repeat scan.
Booking, getting there and opening hours
Arafat Dental Clinics is recorded at دوار الصحفيين، مجمع التميمي ط1. That is Al Tamimi Complex, first floor, at Journalists Roundabout in Tabarbour, Amman.
The confirmed opening hours are Saturday to Thursday, 10:00–22:00. Friday hours are not listed, so check before visiting.
The record lists the first consultation as free. The cost of imaging and any treatment depends on the examination and plan, so ask before starting. If you are booking a dental x-ray in Tabarbour during pregnancy, mention it when you book. Use the contact button on this page to arrange a visit.