Jaw joint imaging • Great Barr, Birmingham
TMJ (jaw joint) CBCT scan in Birmingham: what it shows and what it doesn’t
A CBCT scan gives a detailed 3D picture of the bony parts of the jaw joint. It can show wear, flattening, bony spurs or a fracture of the condyle. It cannot show the cartilage disc or the muscles, which cause most jaw pain and clicking. That needs a different test.
- GDC regulated
- CQC registered
- IRMER-compliant
Prices
- CBCT scan£139 per arch
- Radiology report (optional)£115
- Consultation if you have no referring dentist£54
CBCT shows bone, not the disc. The jaw joint has a small cartilage disc between the condyle (the rounded top of the lower jaw) and the skull. CBCT shows the bones very clearly but cannot show the disc, ligaments or muscles. If your clinician is worried about the disc, MRI is the appropriate test. We do not offer MRI.
Most jaw pain doesn’t need a scan
Jaw pain, aching muscles, clicking and stiffness are common. UK selection criteria note that most people with jaw joint symptoms have muscle-related pain or a problem with the position of the disc. Bony changes are not seen in muscle-related pain, and only occasionally in disc problems. So for most people, an X-ray or CBCT will not change what happens next. Clicking on its own, with no other signs, is not a reason for X-rays.
Imaging becomes useful when your dentist or specialist sees signs that something is progressing, such as:
- a recent injury to the jaw or chin
- a change in how your teeth meet (your bite)
- the jaw shifting to one side
- numbness, tingling or weakness in the area
- a change in how far you can open or move your jaw
What a TMJ CBCT can show
Wear and degenerative change
CBCT shows the outer surface of the condyle and joint socket. It can reveal erosion, flattening, bony spurs (osteophytes) and remodelling. These are features of degenerative joint disease.
Fractures and injury
After trauma, once the urgent phase has been managed, a clinician may request a CBCT to look at the bony detail of the condyle and neck of the jaw.
Shape and development
Differences in condyle size or shape between the two sides, and other developmental variations, show up clearly in 3D. This can matter in orthodontic or surgical planning.
What it can’t show
The disc, joint fluid, inflammation in the soft tissues and the chewing muscles. MRI is the reference test for disc position, and the two scans answer different questions.
Why the OPG isn’t always enough
A panoramic X-ray (OPG) does include the condyles, and it is often taken first. UK guidance points to a study in patients with jaw joint symptoms where panoramic X-rays added little that changed diagnosis or management in most cases. When bony detail of the joint is genuinely needed, a 3D scan can show what a flat image overlaps or distorts. Because a CBCT uses a higher dose than an OPG, it must be justified for the individual patient. See CBCT vs OPG.
How a TMJ scan works here
- Referral: from your dentist, oral surgeon or specialist through the booking and referral form. If you don’t have a dentist, the form adds a consultation (£54) so a clinician can decide whether a scan is justified. UK law (IR(ME)R 2017) requires every exposure to be justified.
- Planning the field of view: the joints sit further back and higher than the teeth. We confirm from the referral which side or sides are needed and how they will be captured.
- The scan: you stand still while the scanner arm turns around your head. It takes seconds of exposure, and the appointment is short.
- Images and reporting: DICOM files and JPG previews go securely to your clinician, usually the same day. Because the joint lies towards the edge of the usual dental area, many referrers add a formal radiology report (£115).
Cost: CBCT £139 per arch. A £30 deposit secures an online appointment and is deducted on the day.
For referring clinicians
- Include the clinical indication (trauma, occlusal change, mandibular deviation, altered range of movement, sensory or motor change). This supports justification under the criteria above.
- Specify unilateral or bilateral and the question. For example: “?condylar erosion / osteophyte L TMJ”.
- If the question concerns the disc or joint effusion, CBCT will not answer it. Consider MRI referral instead.
- Confirm who will evaluate the full volume, as required by UK CBCT guidance, or request a report. See for dentists.
Frequently asked questions
My jaw clicks. Do I need a scan?
Usually not. UK selection criteria say X-rays are not recommended for joint clicking on its own, without other signs or symptoms. Imaging is considered when there is evidence of a progressive problem, such as recent injury, a change in your bite, the jaw shifting to one side, numbness or weakness, or a change in how far you can open.
Will a CBCT show if my disc has slipped?
No. The disc is soft tissue, and CBCT cannot show it. MRI is the reference test for disc position. Your dentist, GP or specialist would arrange that separately. We do not offer MRI.
I’ve been hit in the face and my jaw won’t close properly. Should I book?
No. A suspected broken or dislocated jaw needs urgent medical assessment, not a booked dental scan. Go to A&E or call NHS 111. CBCT of the joint may play a part later, if a clinician requests it.
Can you scan both jaw joints?
That depends on the field of view your clinician needs and what our scanner can capture in one volume (our largest is 16 cm high by 9 cm deep). We confirm how both joints will be imaged when we review the referral, before you attend.
How much is a TMJ CBCT?
A CBCT is £139 per arch. A formal radiology report is optional at £115, and many referrers choose it for joint scans. Without a referring dentist, a consultation (£54) comes first. See prices.
Ready to arrange a CBCT or OPG scan?
Book online in a few minutes, or call us if you are not sure which scan you need. Dentists can refer with the same form.