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Those who see the ‘big picture’ gather for two days of 3-D education

Dr Scott Ganz moderated the 3rd International Congress on 3-D Dental Imaging, held recently in Chicago.
Fred Michmershuizen / DTA

Fred Michmershuizen / DTA

Tue. 30 June 2009

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NEW YORK CITY, NY, and CHICAGO, IL, USA: Are you using 3-D imaging yet?  Or are you stuck in the old-fashioned, 2-D X-ray world? If you haven’t yet ventured into the new visual frontier of cone beam imaging, you have no idea what you are missing. Just ask those who attended the 3rd International Congress on 3-D Dental Imaging, held in Chicago from 19 to 20 June. The event was hosted by Imaging Sciences International and Gendex Dental Systems. 

Those who have embraced cone beam 3-D technology — dentists who can easily be called the best and the brightest in their respective areas of practice — gathered for two full days of intensive education and panel discussions. The theme of the meeting was An Interdisciplinary Approach to Treatment Planning, and an impressive roster of speakers shared their knowledge and expertise in how they incorporate 3-D technology in general dentistry, implantology, orthodontics and endodontics.

In addition, almost two dozen companies were on hand to showcase their offerings, including new products, software and ancillary services.

Organizers of the congress pointed out that dentists still need 2-D for intra-oral imaging, as CBCT does not work well for caries detection. And 2-D pans have their place in dentistry and under many other situations. But to truly be on the cutting edge today, meeting organizers said, dentists should embrace technology like cone beam.

“Cone beam 3-D technology has emerged as the superior treatment planning tool throughout the industry,” said Bob Joyce, president of KaVo Group Imaging, in remarks welcoming attendees to the congress. “As practices around the globe transition from 2-D to 3-D imaging, we realized the need to provide dental professionals with the information and expertise to successfully bring 3-D dentistry into the everyday practice.”

Dr Scott Ganz, who served as moderator for the event, kicked off the meeting with welcoming remarks and an introduction. His advice to attendees: If you have cone beam in your practice, scan every patient regardless of what kind of treatment they need. “Technology is our friend,” he said. “Embrace technology.”

Dr Ganz was joined by Dr Jack Krauser for the first session, Lessons Learned: Incorporating Cone Beam CT and 3-D Implant Planning: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. They presented cases that had been treated beautifully with 3-D imaging, and many others that did not turn out so well with traditional 2-D images.

Dr Krauser, who said that his cone beam machine is the single most important device he’s ever gotten for his practice, pointed out that while the data collected for a patient can be useful for things like guided surgery, it is ultimately the dentist — not the software — who must interpret the data to determine the best plan of action.

“Installing the cone beam machine is just the beginning,” Dr Krauser said. “It’s not the scan, it’s the plan.”

Dr Krauser said that the technology can be used by dentists to look back at past cases that failed to find out what went wrong and why. Such insights are valuable, he said, in preventing future mistakes.

Dr John Flucke, a general practitioner, offered a presentation titled A Teamwork Approach: General Dentistry’s Uses for Cone Beam. Dr Flucke said that he doesn’t understand why any dentist would not want to use 3-D imaging.

“You can’t treat what you can’t see,” he said. “It’s not just for complicated cases. You will use it for everyday, bread-and-butter dentistry.”

Dr Flucke said that the increased information available with 3-D imaging makes him much more knowledgeable. He knows much better which cases he can treat and which ne needs to refer out. He also uses the collected data in treatment planning with specialists, whom he invites to his practice to review cases in his conference room. The bottom line, he said, is that people’s time is not wasted and results for patients are much better.

Later in the day, orthodontist Dr Ed Lin presented Taking 21st Century Orthodontics Into the 3-D World. He said that while the software can be difficult to learn, the improved results for patients makes the investment of both time and money worth it.

“With these tools we don’t have to guess anymore,” Dr Lin said. “It is our responsibility to learn this.”

Also presenting on the first day of the congress were Dr James Mah, on Lies, Damned Lies and Cone Beam; Dr Michael A. Pikos, on Interdisciplinary Esthetic Zone Reconstruction: Synergy of Interactive CT / Hard and Soft Tissue Grafting; and Dr Walter Chitwood, on Creating Better Communications With Technology.

Dr W. Bruce Howerton Jr., who offered A Systematic Approach to Interpreting DICOM Data Within the Field of View, was among the presenters on the second day. Dr Howerton took attendees on a “tour” of the human facial anatomy, from top to bottom and left to right. He showed fellow dentists what to look for in data sets. He even showed how to detect things like sinus infections and excessive earwax buildup in patients, which is quite common.

If you can’t review data sets on your own, Dr Howerton advised, then give them to someone who can — even if you have to pay someone $75 per case to review. “Patients are willing to pay for excellent care,” he said.

Dr Howerton also showed 2-D images of implant cases that had failed, with follow-up 3-D images that explained why. In too many cases, he demonstrated, traditional imaging is simply not good enough.

“People who are placing dental implants with 2-D imaging need to stop it,” Dr Howerton said.

Later in the day, Art Curley, an attorney, offered up some of the legal ramifications involved in using — or not using — 3-D imaging. Also presenting on the second day of the congress were Dr Ralan Wong, on 3-De Endodontics: The Final Frontier; and Dr Steven A. Guttenberg, on Cone Beam CT: Can You Afford to Not Have One in Your Office?

The meeting was made possible by Imaging Sciences International and Gendex Dental Systems, the corporate hosts for the event. Also supporting the meeting was gold sponsor 3D Diagnostix. Sponsoring companies were 360imaging, 3dMD, Anatomage, BeamRiders Diagnostic Services, BioHorizons, Dental USA, DEXIS, Dolphin Imaging & Management Solutions, Dimensions Imaging, KaVo Dental, Materialase Dental, Nobel Biocare, nSequence, Orascoptic, Ormco, Pelton & Crane, RLMS Radiology Lab Management System, SureSmile Digital Orthodontic System, Sybron Implant Solutions, and The Bottom Line Comprehensive Course. During breaks between presentations, meeting attendees were able to visit all of the sponsoring companies in the exhibit area to learn even more.

The meeting in Chicago was so successful that plans are already under way for the 4th International Congress on 3-D Dental Imaging, to be held 25-26 June 2010 in La Jolla, CA, USA. For more information and to register, visit www.i-CAT3D.com.

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