What are pano and CBCT site requirements?
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Every make differs, but in 2026 they share four needs: a room big enough for the unit's rotation with a reinforced wall or floor, a dedicated 20-amp circuit, a wired gigabit network connection, and a shielding plan before drywall. Dentsply Sirona, for example, requires a physicist's shielding survey for every 3D install and supports no wireless (Dentsply Sirona).
Which guide you need: this is the site-prep spec for contractors and equipment reps. For whether you need a dedicated room at all, see CBCT and pano room requirements. For whether you need lead, see x-ray shielding in dental offices. For who designs, builds and inspects the shielding, see x-ray shielding plans. For workstation, software and PMS fit, see CBCT compatibility.
Key facts
| Requirement | Dentsply Sirona (Orthophos/Axeos) | Carestream CS 8100 3D | Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Space | Per site survey | 1200 × 1400 × 2400 mm (2000 mm wide with ceph) | 1500 × 1630 mm (2150 mm wide with ceph) |
| Structure | Wall holds 160 lb per bolt at 76-3/4" | Floor 500 kg/m²; door ≥ 75 cm; ceiling ≥ 240 cm | Per manual |
| Power | 200–240 V, 20 A dedicated, hardwired | Dedicated line, 30 mA differential breaker; 20 A at 100–130 V | Dedicated grounded outlet within 2.5 m; UPS if voltage varies > ±10% |
| Network | 1 Gbit/s on all 3D components; no wireless | Point-to-point Ethernet to the PC, not via LAN; 1 Gb board | Per Romexis requirements |
| Shielding | Physicist plan mandatory for 3D | State rules | State rules |
Sources: Dentsply Sirona Site Survey V44 (PDF); Carestream SM843 (PDF); Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid installation manual (PDF, third-party host).
How big does a pano or CBCT room need to be?
Check the specific unit's installation guide. Carestream's CS 8100 3D needs 1200 mm wide × 1400 mm deep × 2400 mm high of clear space, or 2000 mm wide with the cephalometric arm, plus a door at least 75 cm (30 in) wide and a 240 cm ceiling (Carestream). Planmeca's ProMax 3D Mid lists a minimum operational space of 1500 mm wide × 1630 mm deep, or 2150 mm wide with the cephalostat (Planmeca manual). The Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual's planning figure for a pano alone is 30 square feet (Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual), which is too small for most CBCT units with ceph.
Add room for patient access (including wheelchairs) and the operator's control position outside the exposure area. See CBCT and pano room requirements for layout.
What structure does the unit need?
Wall-mounted units need blocking; floor-standing units need floor capacity. Dentsply Sirona's survey says the wall must hold 160 pounds on each of two wall bolts at 76-3/4" (Dentsply Sirona). Carestream lists a floor capacity of 500 kg/m² for the CS 8100 3D (Carestream). Metal studs usually need added backing; your architect or structural engineer confirms.
What power does a CBCT need?
A dedicated circuit, and often a hardwired one:
- Dentsply Sirona: 200–240 V, 20 A dedicated circuit, hardwired (no plug), with electrical work completed before install day (Dentsply Sirona).
- Carestream CS 8100 3D: a dedicated line protected by a 30 mA differential breaker and a breaker of 20 A at 100–130 V (or 15–20 A at 200–240 V) (Carestream).
- Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid: a dedicated, grounded outlet within 2.5 m (8 ft), and a UPS if voltage fluctuates more than ±10% (Planmeca manual).
See operatory electrical.
What network does a CBCT need?
Wired gigabit, planned before drywall. Dentsply Sirona requires all network components involved in 3D imaging to run at 1 Gbit/s, supports no wireless, lists specific ports that must be open, and recommends reserved static IPs outside the DHCP range (Dentsply Sirona). Carestream requires the CS 8100 3D to connect to its acquisition computer by a point-to-point Ethernet link, not through the LAN, using a 1 Gb Ethernet board (Carestream). That means a dedicated cable run from the unit to the acquisition PC, plus a normal LAN drop for the PC.
Storage matters too. Dentsply Sirona says 3D images are typically 250–500 MB and can reach 1.3 GB, and its reconstruction server (RCU) usually goes in the server closet (Dentsply Sirona). See network requirements for imaging. The free network & IT plan generator (coming soon) is planned to add imaging drops and VLANs to your plan, and FloorStack Studio (live, free plan) places the unit, acquisition PC and drops on the floor plan.
What about shielding and plan review?
Shielding is designed by a qualified expert and installed before walls close. Dentsply Sirona's survey states that a shielding plan survey by a radiation physicist is mandatory for every 3D installation. It quotes a physics firm saying plan reviews are required in about half the states but are needed nearly everywhere to show dose limits are met, and that a typical review costs $300 to $500 (Dentsply Sirona). Many states require approval before the equipment is installed. See x-ray shielding and shielding plans. The free permit & inspection tracker (coming soon) is planned to track plan review and registration alongside building inspections.
What software checks come first?
Confirm the unit's software works with the practice management system before you order. Dentsply Sirona notes its Sidexis software offers a free interface to practice management software, though the PMS vendor may charge (Dentsply Sirona). Some PMS vendors integrate only the 2D functions of certain 3D units; Patterson's Eaglesoft list, for example, marks Sirona's XG3D and SL as 2D only (Patterson (PDF)). The free device compatibility checker (coming soon) is planned for this check; see our imaging compatibility reference.
How FloorStack helps
FloorStack is a dental build-out platform that puts imaging on the same plan as everything else. FloorStack Studio (live, free plan) places the unit, PC and drops. The device compatibility checker, permit & inspection tracker and network & IT plan generator are free tools coming soon. Back to the Dental Equipment Planning hub.
Free tools for this step
- FloorStack Studio (live, free plan): a 3D IT plan of your office with every device placed.
- Device compatibility checker (free tool, coming soon): check sensors, CBCT, pano and PMS bridges before you buy.
- Permit & inspection tracker (free tool, coming soon): track every permit, inspection and sign-off through the certificate of occupancy.
- Network & IT plan generator (free tool, coming soon): turn your floor plan into a drops, rack, Wi-Fi and VLAN plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does a CBCT need a dedicated circuit?
Yes. Dentsply Sirona requires a 20 A dedicated hardwired circuit at 200–240 V; Carestream recommends a dedicated line with a 30 mA differential breaker (Dentsply Sirona; Carestream).
Can a CBCT connect over Wi-Fi?
Not for Dentsply Sirona 3D, which supports no wireless and requires 1 Gbit/s (Dentsply Sirona).
How much does a radiation shielding plan review cost?
A typical plan review costs $300–$500, according to the physics firm quoted in Dentsply Sirona's survey (Dentsply Sirona).
How big is a CBCT room?
It depends on the unit. Carestream's CS 8100 3D needs 1200 × 1400 mm of floor space; Planmeca's ProMax 3D Mid needs 1500 × 1630 mm (Carestream; Planmeca).
How large are CBCT image files?
Typically 250–500 MB, up to 1.3 GB, for Dentsply Sirona 3D units (Dentsply Sirona).
Does the CBCT connect to the office network directly?
Not always. Carestream's CS 8100 3D connects point-to-point to its acquisition PC (Carestream).
Sources
- Dentsply Sirona: Imaging Site Survey, Version 44 (PDF)
- Carestream Dental: CS 8100 3D Installation Guide SM843 (PDF)
- Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid Installation Manual (PDF, hosted by a third-party distributor)
- Safety Net Dental Clinic Manual: Facility size and space
- Patterson: Eaglesoft compatible equipment list, Answer 2647 (PDF)
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