“Do I need a CT scan for getting dental implants?”

In most cases, it is highly recommended to get this and it gives much more detail about bone quality and density.

It all depends on the case and the skill of the surgeon. I have been doing implants for decades and no CT scanner, nearly 100% success rate.

William C Storoe IV DDS
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon

Dear Reader, Great question. First off, your surgeon (dentist, oral surgeon, or periodontist) will be using a CBCT (cone beam computerized tomography) machine versus a traditional CT machine. Much, much less radiation!  Disclosure: I have a CBCT machine in my office and use it to help me in implant placement. While a good doctor can place implants without one, a CBCT gives a 3-D image of the jaw instead of a flat 2-D image you get from traditional dental x-rays. Being able to measure height, width and depth can help the surgeon select the best size implant for the site. Also, there are areas we wish to avoid, such as major nerves, blood vessels, sinuses, cysts, voids, etc. A CBCT can identify these critical areas. While I placed implants without a CBCT for many years, there's no way I would do it without one now. If your doctor is thinking about using a surgical guide, a CBCT is a requirement to have it made. For my patients who are concerned, it usually comes down to radiation or finances. Since the radiation is minimal, that should not be a concern. If it's financed, talk to your doctor and maybe you two can work something out.  Implants can fail, so if you want the best chance at a great result, I would strongly recommend having the CBCT.  
Hope this helps.

Yes. That is the standard of care.

It is a good idea to evaluate the bone where the implant is being positioned.

Although, not standard of care, I prefer them for the 3rd dimension that

CT Scans give a three-dimensional image of the area and for implants, it is better to do a CT scan to get a better idea about the width and height of the bone in the area. Thanks!