COMPARISONS
CBCT for implant-only cases vs CBCT for endo plus implant cases
For implant-only planning, a limited field-of-view CBCT (5x5 to 8x8 cm) at 75 to 200 micron voxel is enough. For endodontic plus implant work in the same scan, you need higher resolution (75 to 125 micron) and a field that captures root anatomy and the planned implant site.
THE BOTTOM LINE
For implant-only planning, a limited field-of-view CBCT (5x5 to 8x8 cm) at 75 to 200 micron voxel is enough. For endodontic plus implant work in the same scan, you need higher resolution (75 to 125 micron) and a field that captures root anatomy and the planned implant site. Dani Dental designs guides off both protocols; the scan protocol drives guide tolerance, not the other way around.
SIDE BY SIDE
CBCT for implant-only planning vs CBCT for endo plus implant planning
| Consideration | CBCT for implant-only planning | CBCT for endo plus implant planning |
|---|---|---|
| Typical field of view | 5x5 to 8x8 cm (site-specific) | 8x8 to 10x10 cm (multi-site) |
| Voxel size we prefer for guide design | 150 to 200 micron acceptable | 75 to 125 micron required |
| Primary anatomy captured | Ridge, sinus floor, IAN canal | Root canal system plus implant site |
| Patient radiation dose | Lower (smaller FOV) | Higher (larger FOV, finer voxel) |
| Surgical guide fit tolerance Dani targets | Within 100 micron at sleeve | Within 100 micron at sleeve |
| Intraoral scan still required | true | true |
| DICOM plus STL merge in our planning software | Standard turnaround | Standard turnaround |
| Best for | Single or multi-unit implant placement | Endo retreatment decision plus adjacent implant plan |
| Case planning call with Dani technician | Optional, recommended on full-arch | Recommended on every case |
THE TRADE-OFFS
Where each one earns its place
<p>The protocol you order at the imaging center should match the clinical question, not the other way around. If the only question is where the implant goes, a small field-of-view scan at standard voxel resolution gives the guide team everything we need. If you are also deciding whether to retreat an endo-compromised neighbor before placing the implant, the scan has to resolve canal anatomy at 75 to 125 micron, and the field has to capture both sites in one acquisition so the planning software can register them without a stitch artifact.</p><p>Pick the implant-only protocol when the adjacent dentition is sound and the question is purely surgical: ridge volume, sinus proximity, IAN distance. Choose the endo-plus-implant protocol when you are weighing retreatment against extraction-and-implant on an adjacent tooth, or when the implant site sits next to a tooth with a questionable apex. Go with the endo-plus-implant protocol any time the referring endodontist and the implant surgeon are working the same quadrant in the same treatment plan.</p><p>On either protocol, Boris Dobrikov on our digital workflow bench reviews the DICOM plus STL merge before guide design starts. If the scan resolution will not support a guide at our 100 micron sleeve tolerance, we call you the same day, in hours, not the next week.</p>
<p>Dani Dental designs surgical guides off both protocols, and we have an honest preference: when the case planning conversation is happening anyway, the endo-plus-implant scan gives our technicians more to work with and prevents a second acquisition four weeks later. That said, if the patient is dose-sensitive or the case is genuinely a single-site implant in a clean quadrant, the smaller FOV is the right call and we will not push you toward a larger scan you do not need.</p><p>Where we add value either way: a named technician on every case (you get Boris's direct line on the case sheet), case planning calls included on full-arch and on any endo-plus-implant referral, and a remake rate under 2.5% on guided surgery cases shipped in 2025. The scan protocol is your call; the guide tolerance is ours, and we hold it at 100 micron at the sleeve regardless of which protocol you sent.</p>
IN PRACTICE
How it plays out on real cases
Worked case examples for this comparison are coming. Send us your case and we will show you exactly how each option would play out.
GO DEEPER
Read the full guide on all procedures
This comparison sits inside a larger procedure. The pillar page covers materials, turnaround, and how we build it to your spec.
REQUEST A DOCTOR KIT
Not sure which way to build it? Send the case.
Send us the case and a named technician will tell you which option they would choose and why. First three cases ship on us, with pre-paid shipping and no contract.