What dental diagnostics cover
Before most dental treatment, the dentist needs to see what is under the gums and inside the jaw. Dental diagnostics are the imaging tests that show this: teeth, roots, bone, nerves and sinuses. On our site the category lists five of them: panoramic X-ray, periapical X-ray, targeted X-ray, CT of the mandible and cone beam CT scan. They sit within Dental Treatments treatments in Turkey, and many patients have one or two of them as the first step of a larger plan.
The tests differ in how much of the mouth they show and in how much detail. A simple X-ray of one tooth and a three-dimensional scan of both jaws answer different questions, and more is not always better. The right choice is the smallest image that answers the clinical question.
Dental Diagnostics in Turkey
How the five tests differ
Two-dimensional X-rays
A panoramic x ray shows both jaws, all teeth, the jaw joints and part of the sinuses in one flat image. It is a good overview for planning, for checking wisdom teeth and for seeing missing teeth or large problems. A periapical X-ray shows one to three teeth from crown to root tip with much finer detail, so it is used for infections at the root, root canal treatment and bone loss around a single tooth. A targeted X-ray is taken of one specific area of concern, often to answer a particular question during treatment.
Three-dimensional scans
Cone beam CT scan uses a rotating beam to build a three-dimensional picture of the teeth, jaw bone, nerves and sinuses, usually with a lower radiation dose than a medical CT. It is commonly used to plan implants, to find the position of impacted teeth and to assess difficult root canals. A CT of the mandible is a scan focused on the lower jaw, used where the dentist or surgeon needs a detailed view of bone and nerve position there, for example before surgery or to investigate a cyst.
- Panoramic: whole mouth overview, flat image.
- Periapical: one to three teeth, fine detail of roots.
- Targeted: one specific area.
- Cone beam CT: three-dimensional view of teeth and jaws.
- CT of the mandible: three-dimensional view focused on the lower jaw.
Who needs which test
If you have a toothache, a suspected abscess or a failing filling, a periapical or targeted X-ray is usually enough. If you are planning braces, wisdom tooth removal or a general review of several teeth, a panoramic X-ray is the common starting point. If you are considering implants, bone grafts, a sinus lift or removal of a tooth lying close to a nerve, the dentist will often advise a cone beam CT, because it shows how much bone you have and where the nerve runs.
Often the plan combines tests: a panoramic image first, then a three-dimensional scan if the first image shows something that needs a closer look. Tell the team if you are pregnant or think you may be, as imaging is usually postponed or adapted.
What the visit and recovery are like
These are quick, non-invasive tests. You stand or sit still while the machine moves around your head, which takes seconds for X-rays and under a minute for most scans, and you are asked to remove metal items such as earrings, glasses and removable dentures first. There is nothing to recover from and you can eat and drive afterwards. Images are viewed on screen by the dentist straight away, and you can usually take away digital copies or a disc.
What affects the price
Price depends on the type of image, the number of images, the equipment, the area of the jaw that is scanned and whether a written report from a radiologist or a consultation is included. Three-dimensional scans cost more than flat X-rays because of the equipment and the time needed to read them. Compare quotes only when each lists the same tests.
How to check a clinic
Choose a hospital or clinic licensed by the Turkish Ministry of Health. Ask which machine is used, whether a dentist or radiologist reads the images, and how the findings will be explained to you. Ask how you will receive the images, and whether you can have them in a format your own dentist can open.
How an enquiry with us works
Send any existing X-rays or scans, a short description of your problem and the treatment you are considering. A hospital reviews your material and replies with a written plan that names the dentist, the tests proposed, the cost and the time needed. It is a free quote and it commits you to nothing. If the dentist believes a cheaper or simpler image is enough, the plan will say so.
When you decide to go ahead, we help with appointments and travel questions. You can ask for a free quote for diagnostics on their own, or together with the treatment that follows, and see the panoramic x ray page for the most common first image.
Hospitals with Dental Treatments in Turkey
Other Dental Treatments categories
Frequently asked questions
A panoramic X-ray is a single flat image of both jaws and all teeth. A cone beam CT builds a three-dimensional picture, so it shows bone thickness, nerves and sinuses more precisely. The dentist chooses based on the question.
Often a cone beam CT is advised because it shows how much bone you have and where nerves and sinuses lie. Your dentist decides whether a panoramic X-ray is enough in your case.
Dental X-rays and scans use low doses of radiation and are considered safe when they are needed. Tell the team if you are pregnant or may be, and avoid repeating images that already exist.
The exposure takes seconds for an X-ray and under a minute for most scans. With positioning and viewing the images, a visit usually lasts well under an hour.
Yes, and you should send them with your enquiry. If they are recent and clear, the hospital may be able to plan from them and avoid new imaging.
It is used to look closely at one to three teeth, including the root tips and surrounding bone. Dentists use it for infections, root canal treatment and checking the bone around a single tooth.
It gives a three-dimensional view of the lower jaw, so the surgeon can see bone and the position of the nerve. It is used before surgery or implants in the lower jaw and to investigate cysts or other changes.