You have to see it to diagnose it, and with multiple ways to “see” into patients’ mouths, joints, and airways, why not choose the path that leads to the most information? It’s a path that Dr. Katya Archambault has followed for over 2 decades—from investing in the very first CBCT unit designed for dentistry up until today, where her San Diego practice is equipped with the latest 3D imaging unit from DEXIS, the OP 3D LX.
But it wasn’t always that way.
“When I was in dental school in the early 1990s, all that we had to diagnose patients was 2D radiographs—there was no such thing as CBCT,” said Dr. Archambault, a board-certified oral and maxillofacial radiologist and clinical instructor at the University of California San Diego. “Of course, medicine had multidetector CT technology, but it wasn’t in the dental world yet.”
When indicated, CBCT scanning is now an important aspect of Dr. Archambault’s patient care, as well as a frequent topic when teaching other doctors and dental students. “Dentists who don’t have CBCT are missing information that might really impede their diagnostic task,” she said. “It might seem frightening to see things in 3D, but I always tell my dental students that everything is already there on the 2D image—it’s just harder to see. So, once you learn how to look at those same images in 3D, it’s a revelation.”
Next-Generation CBCT
A multimodality imaging platform designed to expand 3D diagnostic capabilities, the OP 3D LX has 2D and 3D imaging options that cover comprehensive dental extraoral needs—from endodontics to complex surgical cases. Flexible field of view (FOV) options range from 5×5 up to 15×20—the largest view option available on a DEXIS OP 3D platform to date.
“I knew it was going to be a great machine, but I am truly mesmerized by the image quality,” said Dr. Archambault. “I posted an image online, and right away, a few of my colleagues in radiology said, ‘What did you use to make that?’”
With short scan times, the OP 3D LX captures the maxillofacial complex and large diagnostic areas in one non-stitched scan for fast workflows. Implant planning tools and noise-reduction filters embedded into the system software minimize artifacts and noise.
“I see details on large FOVs that I would never have expected to see because the resolution is usually less,” she said. “DEXIS really hit a home run with this machine.”
New Treatment Avenues
While Dr. Archambault’s practice spans multiple treatment areas, including implant surgery, oral and maxillofacial radiology, and dental oncology, she feels that the OP 3D LX is an invaluable tool for general dentists, especially those who wish to expand their roster of services.
“Depending on the patient’s health and imaging history, 3D scans can benefit the outcome of endodontic therapy,” she said. “When you take a CBCT for every endodontically treated tooth, you know exactly how many canals there are before opening the access cavity. It opens the door for more confident extractions because you can visualize every anatomical structure. The same goes for prosthodontics, as you know exactly what’s happening at the root of the tooth you’re going to restore. It opens the gate to a new world where patient anatomy is well visualized and you can navigate with more confidence.”
Extraordinary Ease of Use
Having short scan times is a big advantage for older and younger patients, said Dr. Archambault, along with the unit’s extremely high image resolution. “It’s very simple to use, and having assisted intelligence embedded into the imaging software allows for a very simple workflow for the dentist and their team,” she added. For example, with 96 customizable FOVs, clinicians can simply choose which areas they want to see on the screen, while the machine handles all the calculations.
Adding to this simplicity is the ability of the OP 3D LX to enable an accurate diagnosis in a single-pass capture with no stitching required. “The advantage of this is that you reduce the dose to the patient. With some older units, a larger field of view required you to take 2 scans, which was disruptive. With OP 3D LX, if you want to see more anatomy or make changes on your scout image, the patient doesn’t even have to move. The machine will automatically upgrade to the field of view required.”
The Need for 3D
Addressing whether or not it’s worth it to invest in 3D, Dr. Archambault advises general dentists to ask themselves a simple question: How much will it cost not to have CBCT technology in your office?
“It’s all about patient confidence, treatment acceptance, and doing procedures safely because you’re seeing everything you need to see,” she said. For example, clinicians can determine in advance, before numbing the patient, whether it’s going to be a difficult root canal or extraction that might need to be referred out.
“I’m in love with this machine,” she added. “I have a high bar for technology, but this is above and beyond my expectations. I would never go back to anything else.”
ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPHTM OP 3DTM is a trademark of PaloDEx Group Oy. DTX StudioTM Clinic is a trademark of Nobel Biocare.
