Imaging

CBCT field of view explained

The field of view is the cylindrical region the scanner captures. Smaller FOV means less radiation and finer detail; larger FOV captures more anatomy but at higher dose.

How FOV size affects dose and resolution

Effective dose roughly scales with the irradiated volume. Halving the FOV diameter cuts dose by a factor of about 4. Smaller FOV also tends to allow finer voxel size (down to 75–100 μm) because the detector covers less area at the same pixel count.

Picking a 16 cm FOV when a 5 cm FOV would do means delivering 8–10× the dose for no clinical benefit. Many regulatory bodies (FDA, ICRP, EFOMP) explicitly call out FOV optimization as the single biggest dose reduction lever in CBCT.

Typical FOV by indication

Endodontics, single-tooth pathology, periapical cyst: 4×4 to 5×5 cm. Implant planning of 1–3 sites: 5×5 to 8×8 cm. Full quadrant or sinus assessment: 8×8 to 10×10 cm. Full arch, orthognathic planning, TMJ bilateral: 13×13 to 23×17 cm. Always center on the area of interest.

FAQ

Can I crop a large FOV scan to a smaller region after the fact?

You can crop the displayed volume, but the patient already received the dose for the full FOV. Cropping doesn't reduce exposure retroactively.

What FOV does an implant case usually need?

For 1–3 implants, 5–8 cm covers the site plus enough neighbors for surgical reference. Full-arch implant rehab needs 13×8 cm or larger.

Does smaller FOV always mean better resolution?

Usually yes, because voxel size shrinks. But scanner-specific protocols matter — check your unit's specifications.

Open and measure any FOV in the browser

CBCTHub renders any FOV at native resolution, from 4 cm endo scans to 23 cm orthognathic. Free to start.

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