Allan Deutsch
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hile I was in Philadelphia for the 2005 ADA Convention, Dr. Victor Sendax
(inventor of the mini temporary implant) introduced me to Imtec’s Iluma
FlashCT scanner. The machine itself is about the size of a Panorex
and is entirely open. The total radiation dose is slightly more than
a Panorex. However, the amount of information is mind blowing. You
can see the entire head with all the blood vessels and soft tissue.
You can see just the hard tissue in 3D. You can see how the roots
curve and in what plane and direction. However, the best information
for me is that you can slice the teeth in the horizontal plane in 0.1mm
sections and see:
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the actual canals in the root
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whether there is an MB2 in the maxillary molars
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how many canals are in a bicuspid (max and mand)
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whether the canals are calcified
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whether any canals were missed in retreatment cases
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PARs while they are still confined to the medullary bone (wow!)
This instrument is a major step forward in endodontic
diagnosis!
What makes this all work is the pricing of the machine
by Imtec. Instead of a flat dollar price or lease for the machine,
you can opt for a dollar amount for each scan that is taken. There
is a minimum of $3,000 per month. On this page are some examples of what
we have to look forward to.
Figure 1 shows a 3D picture of all the bony and
hard structures. This view can be rotated and moved in any plane
to see the relationship of various anatomic landmarks.
Figure 2 shows a slightly magnified view of the
maxillary arch in a horizontal slice. Each slice is 0.1 mm thick.
The resolution is amazing. Tooth #3 shows the MB2 canal. On tooth
#2 I cannot see the DB canal.
Figure 3 shows a greatly magnified view of teeth
numbers 2 and 3. The MB2 on tooth #3 is very evident. When
I scrolled through the slice, I could see that the MB2 joined the MB near
the apex. At the apex there was only one MB canal. This is very good
information to know.
Figure 4 shows the beginning of the maxillary
sinus. As we scroll through the slices, we can see whether the root
tips are in the sinus or not. We can also see whether the sinus is cloudy
or not. If there were a PAR between the root tip and the sinus, we
could see that also.
This instrument promises to kick endodontic diagnosis
and treatment into the 21st century. We are currently on a waiting list
for delivery of our new diagnostic instrument.
November-December 2005
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FIGURE 1: A 3D picture of
all the bony and hard structures.
FIGURE 2: A slightly magnified
view of the maxillary arch in a horizontal slice.
FIGURE 3: The beginning of
the maxillary sinus.
FIGURE 4: A greatly magnified
view of teeth numbers 2 and 3.
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