CJ Henley, DMD, PA / San Marco, Jacksonville, Florida
Digital and 3D dental imaging in Jacksonville, FL.
See what we see.
Good dentistry starts with a clear, complete picture of what is going on beneath the surface. At our San Marco office, 3D dental imaging with an in-office cone beam CT (CBCT), a 3Shape TRIOS digital scanner, and handheld digital X-rays let us diagnose earlier, plan more carefully, and treat with less guesswork. Every image we take is weighed against one question first: does this help you?
- <1 dayof natural background radiation is about the dose of one digital dental X-ray4,5
- Secondsto capture a small field-of-view 3D cone beam scan of the jaws
- 0radiation from the TRIOS intraoral scanner, which uses light
- 2024ADA guidance: lead aprons no longer recommended for dental X-rays1
Technology forward. Rooted in tradition.
What is 3D dental imaging, and why does it matter?
3D dental imaging uses a cone beam CT scan to show the teeth, jawbone, nerves, and sinuses in three dimensions, where a regular dental X-ray is a flat picture of a curved object. Together with a digital intraoral scanner and low-dose digital X-rays, it lets us find problems earlier and plan treatment with less guesswork.
On one side, a genuinely modern practice: 3D cone beam imaging, digital intraoral scanning, and handheld digital X-rays, all in the office. On the other, a very traditional way of practicing. We slow down. We look at the whole person, not only the tooth. Each case is planned carefully, by hand, and no two plans are the same, because no two people are.
The technology does not replace that judgment. It informs it. A scanner or a 3D image gives us better information. What we do with that information is still careful, methodical, artistic work.
Imaging is part of every new patient visit and every plan we build, from cosmetic dentistry and clear aligners to care for patients with head and neck cancer. Imaging is one part of a comprehensive dental exam, never a substitute for it.
Explore a real cone beam scan
Rotate a real 3D dental scan from our office.
The cone beam scan below is a real one from our office. It belongs to Dr. Henley, shared with his own consent and stripped of all identifying data. Rotate it, adjust the density, look through the bone at the roots, and switch to the slice views. This is exactly what we look at when we plan your care.
Interactive viewer. On a phone, use one finger to rotate and two to zoom. If it doesn’t load, the rest of this page explains what a cone beam scan shows.
3D cone beam CT (CBCT) in Jacksonville
3D cone beam CT: the real anatomy, in every direction.
Our in-office Carestream CS 8100 3D cone beam scanner captures a three-dimensional image of the jaws in a few seconds. CBCT shows the exact width and height of bone before an implant, the position of a tooth next to a nerve, the true shape of a root canal, or a cyst or infection that a 2D image can hide. It also lets Dr. Henley look at the jaw joints when he evaluates TMJ and jaw pain. We use it when it is clinically indicated, not routinely.
We use a small field of view, sized to the area we actually need, which keeps the dose low and the detail high3. A cone beam scan uses more radiation than a single small X-ray, which is exactly why it is reserved for questions a flat image can’t answer.
- Dental implants: measuring bone and locating the nerve and sinus, and making a surgical guide when the case calls for one.
- Suspected cracks: when appropriate, to look for a cracked tooth or root fracture that a 2D image misses.
- Infection and root anatomy: hidden canals, infection at the root tip, and bone loss around a tooth.
- Cysts and lesions: size and position of a lump or shadow in the jaw, part of oral medicine diagnosis.
- Impacted teeth: a tooth’s position next to the nerve, so the right surgeon can plan its removal.
3Shape TRIOS intraoral scanner
Digital impressions with the 3Shape TRIOS scanner.
The 3Shape TRIOS is a small handheld wand that builds a full-color digital 3D model of your teeth and gums in minutes. There is no radiation involved at all. We use both TRIOS digital scans and traditional impressions, choosing whichever gives the most accurate result for your case.
Digital scans work well for many crowns, veneers, clear aligners, night guards, and implant restorations. Some cases are still better recorded with a traditional impression, for example certain margins below the gum or some dentures, and we use putty when it is the better tool.
Because the model is digital, we can design and check restorations on screen, communicate precisely with the lab, and compare scans over time to watch for wear, gum recession, or tooth movement.
NOMAD handheld digital X-rays
Digital dental X-rays with the NOMAD Pro 2.
For routine dental X-rays we use the NOMAD Pro 2, a handheld, FDA-cleared digital X-ray unit, paired with digital sensors. Its built-in shielding and backscatter shield, together with the digital sensor, mean each image uses a fraction of the radiation of older film X-rays.
We can take the picture right in the chair, at the exact angle needed, which means fewer retakes and a more comfortable visit. Bitewing X-rays find cavities between the teeth that can’t be seen, often early enough for a small tooth-colored filling; periapical X-rays show the root tip and the bone around it; a panoramic image shows both jaws at once.
The operator is protected too: published dosimetry shows that with proper technique, the exposure to the person holding the unit is a small fraction of the annual occupational limit8.
Every case is planned, not processed
Which dental image is right for which question?
Imaging is where a plan begins, not where it ends. A 3D scan of your jaw, a digital model of your teeth, and a careful clinical exam are studied together before we recommend anything. Sometimes the answer is a simpler treatment than expected. Sometimes it is a referral. Either way, you will understand what we found and see it yourself on the screen.
| Question | Digital X-ray (2D) | Cone beam CT (3D) | TRIOS intraoral scan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shows | Teeth and bone, flattened into one picture | Bone, roots, nerves, and sinuses in three dimensions | Surface of the teeth and gums, in color |
| Radiation | Very low | Low, higher than a single X-ray | ✓ None |
| Typical use | Cavities, root tips, bone levels | Implants, cracks, lesions, nerve position, jaw joints (TMJ) | Crowns, veneers, aligners, guards |
| How often | Based on your risk, not a fixed schedule | Only when clinically indicated | As often as useful |
Your safety comes first
Are dental X-rays safe? How we keep your dose low.
Yes. Dental X-rays are among the lowest-dose medical images there are, and we only take them when there is a clinical reason. Radiation safety in our office is not an afterthought: it is built into how we choose equipment, how we take images, and when we decide not to. Our protocols follow current guidance from the American Dental Association and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration1,2,3, and in several areas go further than the minimum.
Digital sensors only
The ADA’s 2024 recommendations call for digital receptors over film because they need far less radiation. We have no film in the office1.
Rectangular collimation
The X-ray beam is restricted to the area being imaged, which the ADA panel found protects the rest of the body better than a lead apron does.
As low as diagnostically acceptable
Every image is justified by a clinical question, never a fixed schedule. If a recent image exists, we ask for it rather than repeat it.
3D only when 2D is not enough
Cone beam scans are reserved for questions a flat image can’t answer, as the FDA and ADA advise, and we scan the smallest field of view that will do the job3.
Inspected and registered equipment
Our X-ray units are registered with, and inspected under, the Florida Department of Health’s radiation control program, and maintained to the manufacturer’s specifications.
A trained team
Only licensed, trained team members take images, using positioning and technique that gets the picture right the first time. Meet our team.
Lead aprons and thyroid collars are no longer recommended for dental X-rays under the ADA’s 2024 guidance. If wearing one makes you more comfortable, just ask. We are happy to provide it.
Radiation dose, in context
How much radiation is a dental X-ray, really?
Everyone receives a small amount of natural background radiation every day from the ground, the air, and space, about 3 millisieverts (mSv) a year in the United States5. One digital intraoral X-ray is less than a day of that background, and a small field-of-view cone beam scan is roughly a few days to about two weeks4,5,7. The exact number depends on the equipment and settings.
| Image | Typical dose | About the same as |
|---|---|---|
| One digital intraoral X-ray (bitewing or periapical) | About 0.001 to 0.008 mSv | Less than a day of natural background radiation |
| Panoramic X-ray | About 0.004 to 0.03 mSv | Roughly one to a few days of background |
| Small field-of-view dental cone beam CT | Roughly 0.02 to 0.1 mSv | A few days to about two weeks of background; about a round-trip cross-country flight or two |
| 3Shape TRIOS intraoral scan | None | A photograph |
A cone beam scan uses more radiation than a single small X-ray, which is exactly why we use it selectively. When it is the right tool, the information it gives us, such as avoiding a nerve during surgery or catching a lesion early, is well worth it.
Pregnancy, children, and medical history
Dental imaging during pregnancy, for children, and for complex health.
The ADA’s 2024 recommendations apply to all patients regardless of pregnancy status, and the dose to the abdomen from a properly collimated dental X-ray is negligible1. Children get images sized to their mouths and their cavity risk. For patients with a complex medical history, imaging is planned around what your physicians need to know.
During pregnancy
We still take a conservative approach and defer any image that isn’t needed for a current problem until after delivery. Please tell us if you are or may be pregnant. See dental care during pregnancy.
Children and teens
X-rays for kids are based on their cavity risk and growth, not the calendar, and the TRIOS scanner uses no radiation at all. See children’s dentistry.
Cancer treatment and dry mouth
People with dry mouth or a history of head and neck radiation get cavities faster and may need images more often. Before radiation, a dental exam before radiation includes the images your oncologist needs.
Oral cancer screening
Imaging complements, but never replaces, the visual and hands-on oral cancer screening that is part of every exam.
3D dental imaging near you
In-office 3D imaging in San Marco, for all of Jacksonville.
Having cone beam CT in the office means a 3D scan can happen at the same visit as your exam, without a trip to an imaging center. Patients come to our Hendricks Avenue office from San Marco, Southbank, San Jose, Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, St. Nicholas, and Downtown, and from Mandarin, the Southside, the Beaches, Ponte Vedra, Orange Park, and St. Augustine.
Already have recent images from another dentist? Bring them or have them sent, and we will use them instead of taking new ones wherever possible. See our pages for Mandarin, the Southside, Jacksonville Beach, Ponte Vedra Beach, Riverside and Avondale, Orange Park, and St. Augustine.
Straight answers
Questions about dental X-rays and 3D imaging.
Still have questions before your visit? See our FAQ or contact us.
Why do I need dental X-rays at all?
Roughly half of each tooth, and all of the bone that holds it, is invisible to the eye. X-rays show decay between the teeth, infection at the root tips, bone loss from gum disease, cysts, tumors, impacted teeth, and problems under existing fillings and crowns. Most of these are painless until they are advanced, and finding them early almost always means simpler treatment.
Are dental X-rays safe?
Yes. A single digital dental X-ray is comparable to less than one day of the natural background radiation everyone receives. We use digital sensors, a tightly collimated beam, and modern equipment, and we only take images when there is a clinical reason. The benefit of finding a problem early is far greater than the very small risk.
How often should I have dental X-rays?
It depends on you. The ADA and FDA recommend against fixed schedules. A patient with no history of decay and healthy gums may go two to three years between bitewings; someone with active disease, dry mouth, or a lot of dental work may need them more often. We decide together at the exam.
Why don’t you use a lead apron anymore?
In 2024 the American Dental Association, with support from FDA physicists, recommended against lead aprons and thyroid collars for dental X-rays. Digital equipment and a narrow, rectangular beam protect the body better, and shielding can block part of the image and force a retake. If you would like one anyway, just ask.
Is it safe to have dental X-rays during pregnancy?
Yes. The ADA’s 2024 recommendations apply regardless of pregnancy status, and the dose to the abdomen is negligible. We still defer any image that isn’t needed for a current problem until after delivery, so please tell us if you are or may be pregnant.
What is a cone beam CT, and why would I need one?
A cone beam CT (CBCT) is a three-dimensional X-ray of the jaws that takes a few seconds in the chair. We use it when a flat image can’t answer the question: planning dental implants, checking a tooth near the nerve, finding hidden root canals, assessing bone loss, looking at a cyst or lesion, or evaluating the jaw joints in TMJ problems. It is never routine.
What is the difference between a dental CBCT and a medical CT scan?
A dental cone beam scan covers a small area of the jaws with a cone-shaped beam and, for the small fields of view we use, typically a much lower dose than a medical CT of the head. It is built to show bone and teeth in fine detail, while a medical CT shows soft tissues better.
Is the handheld X-ray unit safe for the person holding it?
Yes. The NOMAD Pro 2 is FDA-cleared and has internal lead shielding around the tube and a backscatter shield in front of the operator. Published dosimetry shows that with proper technique the operator’s exposure is a small fraction of the annual occupational limit. Our team is trained in its correct use.
Does the 3Shape scanner use radiation?
No. The intraoral scanner uses light, not X-rays. It is essentially a very fast 3D camera, safe for everyone, including pregnant patients and children, and can be repeated as often as needed.
Do you still use impression putty?
Sometimes. We use both 3Shape TRIOS digital scans and traditional impressions, choosing whichever gives the most accurate result for your case. Many crowns, veneers, aligners, and guards are scanned; some cases are better recorded with putty.
Can I get copies of my dental X-rays and scans?
Of course. They are yours. We can send digital X-rays, 3D scans, and intraoral scan files to you or to another provider on request. If you have recent images from a previous dentist, bring them or have them sent, and we will use them instead of taking new ones wherever possible.
How much radiation is a dental X-ray?
Typical published figures are about 0.001 to 0.008 mSv for one digital intraoral X-ray, 0.004 to 0.03 mSv for a panoramic X-ray, and roughly 0.02 to 0.1 mSv for a small field-of-view cone beam scan. Natural background radiation in the United States is about 3 mSv a year.
Where can I get a 3D dental scan in Jacksonville?
CJ Henley, DMD, PA has an in-office cone beam CT at 3675 Hendricks Avenue, Jacksonville, FL 32207, in San Marco. Scans are taken when clinically indicated as part of an exam. Call 904.398.1549 or request an appointment online.
Your next step
See your own teeth the way we see them.
Start with an exam. You’ll see your images on the screen, hear what they show in plain language, and know why each one was taken. Questions? Call 904.398.1549 or email Smile@cjhenleydmd.com.
CJ Henley, DMD, PA3675 Hendricks Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32207
Related pages
Sources
- American Dental Association. ADA releases updated recommendations to enhance radiography safety in dentistry (Journal of the American Dental Association, February 2024).
- American Dental Association. X-rays/radiographs, oral health topics. Accessed October 2026.
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Dental cone-beam computed tomography. Accessed October 2026.
- International Atomic Energy Agency. Radiation doses in dental radiology. Accessed October 2026.
- Radiation dose from X-ray and CT exams. RadiologyInfo.org (ACR and RSNA). Accessed October 2026.
- National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements. Report No. 177, Radiation protection in dentistry and oral and maxillofacial imaging (2019).
- Pauwels R, Beinsberger J, Collaert B, et al. Effective dose range for dental cone beam computed tomography scanners. Eur J Radiol. 2012;81(2):267-271.
- Occupational radiation exposure from handheld dental X-ray devices: a quantitative dosimetric study (2025).
- DEXIS / KaVo. NOMAD Pro 2 handheld X-ray system.
- 3Shape. TRIOS intraoral scanners.