How much does a CBCT cost? What really drives the price for a UK practice

"How much is a CBCT?" is the question I'm asked more than any other. After 25 years in dentistry, and 15 running 360 Visualise, my honest answer is: it depends on what's included. Two quotes for what looks like the same scanner can be thousands of pounds apart, usually because one is for a box and the other is for a scanner you can actually use on patients. This guide explains what drives the cost so you can compare quotes properly.

1. The machine itself

The scanner is the biggest single line, and it varies with the manufacturer, the detector and the specification. Combined units that also take panoramic images (and sometimes cephalometric images) replace an OPG as well as adding 3D, which changes the sums if your existing panoramic unit is due for replacement.

2. Field of view

Field of view (FOV) is one of the biggest price drivers. A small-to-medium volume covers endodontics, single implant sites and third molars. Full-arch implant planning needs a larger one. Some machines let you start with a smaller FOV and unlock a larger one later with a software licence, which can spread the cost if your implant work grows. Match the FOV to the cases you actually do. My guide to choosing a CBCT for a UK practice goes into this in more detail.

3. Software

Check what the viewing and planning software includes: implant planning, nerve tracing, merging intraoral scans, exporting to guided surgery software, and how many workstation licences you get. Ask whether there are annual licence fees, or optional modules that cost extra.

4. The room: shielding and preparation

Your room needs to be suitable before installation. Depending on your building, that may mean shielding, a suitable door, electrical work and network cabling. Your Radiation Protection Adviser (RPA) advises on what's needed and your builder prices it. Ask your supplier for the pre-installation requirements early so nothing is missed.

5. RPA advice, critical examination and acceptance testing

Under IRR17 the installer must carry out a critical examination of a new installation, and the practice arranges acceptance testing before first clinical use (many installers combine the two). You'll also need RPA and Medical Physics Expert input on your risk assessment, local rules and QA programme. Ask who arranges and pays for each of these. I've covered the ongoing requirements in keeping your X-ray and CBCT equipment compliant.

6. Installation, PC and IT

3D reconstruction needs a capable PC. Ask whether one is supplied and set up, who connects it to your network and practice software, and who supports it when something changes.

7. Training

Under IR(ME)R, everyone involved needs adequate training for their role: referrers, the practitioner who justifies the exposure, operators, and whoever clinically evaluates the images. Budget for operator training at installation and for clinicians' CBCT training. See my post on whether you need a CBCT reporting course.

8. Warranty, servicing and support

Ask how long the warranty runs, what it covers, and what servicing costs after that. Check response times, whether remote support is included and whether parts and labour are covered. Servicing costs vary by machine and age, so ask for the figure for your exact machine. Downtime matters too: a scanner that's down means cancelled scans and postponed implant consultations.

9. Ongoing testing and QA

Budget for routine radiation safety testing at the interval your RPA/MPE recommends, a critical examination after any relocation or major repair, and the time your team spends on monthly in-house QA. A QA test object is needed for the in-house checks. Ask if one is included.

10. Buy, finance or rent

• Buy outright: usually the lowest total cost over the machine's life, but the biggest upfront spend.
• Finance: spreads the cost over fixed payments; the interest adds to the total.
• Rent: a fixed monthly cost, often with servicing bundled in. Check the term, deposit and what happens at the end.

Speak to your accountant about the tax treatment of each option for your practice.

11. Total cost of ownership over 5–10 years

The fairest comparison is over the life of the scanner. For each quote, add up:

• Machine and any FOV or software upgrades
• Room preparation
• Installation, PC, critical examination and acceptance testing
• Training
• Servicing and support after the warranty
• Routine testing and QA
• Finance costs, if any

Then set that against what the scanner brings in: scans you no longer refer out and treatment you can plan in-house. Have a look at the CBCT case studies for real examples of how practices use their scanners.

Get a quote built on your own practice

The only number that matters is the one for your room, your cases and your preferred way to pay. Start with the which CBCT guide to narrow down the options, then ask 360 Visualise for a quote that lists everything that's included.

Get a CBCT quote from 360V →Which CBCT is right for me?

FAQ

How much does a dental CBCT cost in the UK?

Published UK guides put CBCT systems broadly between £35,000 and £120,000 depending on specification (Dentistry.co.uk, 2024). The real cost depends on what's included, so compare complete quotes.

Why do CBCT quotes vary so much?

Some prices are for the machine only. Others include installation, the critical examination, PC, training, QA test object and warranty. Add those up for every quote.

Is it cheaper to buy, finance or rent a CBCT?

Buying outright usually has the lowest lifetime cost; finance and rental spread the cost and rental often bundles servicing. Compare total cost over the term.

What are the running costs of a CBCT?

Servicing and support after warranty, routine radiation safety testing, in-house QA time, any software licences, and finance costs if applicable.