A comprehensive 3-in-1 platform for the entire maxillofacial region, using the latest in 3D and 2D technologies for routine or surgical applications
Imagine the thrill of pinpointing the real reason someone is having pain, or repeated root canal infections, or exactly where a nerve or third canal is hiding. Imagine the improvement in standard of care when it is discovered that a palatal root is fractured, or it’s a little too soon to extract a wisdom tooth, and thanks to the cone beam 3D image that becomes part of a patient’s record, you know exactly what to do. That’s what started happening when Drs. Alexandra Hernandez and Maricruz Martinez began using the OP 3D Pro from KaVo just a few months ago in their Oklahoma City practice.
“There’s only so much a 2D x-ray can show us,” said Dr. Hernandez. “We had a case where we had no idea the palatal root was fractured, and the only way we discovered that was through using the OP 3D Pro. It helps us by taking the guesswork out of the equation, so we can be more accurate with our diagnoses. We’re also able to offer more treatment options, like implants and measuring airway risk factors now.”
A Versatile System
The OP 3D Pro is a 3-in-1 platform—combining an advanced panoramic imaging system with cone beam 3D and a cephalometric option—that captures high-quality images of the entire maxillofacial region in a variety of resolutions with automatic dose control, multiple field-of-view (FOV) options, and versatile software. “I love being able to rotate the skull and see things from the lingual and the buccal. You can get a really close-up view of the tooth and look inside the canal system, or you can look at multiple teeth from the inside, like you’re seeing them from the tongue side,” Dr. Hernandez said. “The only thing you can do with a flat 2D image is change the shade of gray, whereas with the OP 3D Pro, we flip images upside down and spin them around. It’s phenomenal.”
With 5 FOV options, images can be taken of the whole mandible, maxilla, airway, upper cervical spine, the sinus, or TMJs at once. It can target the complete dental arch or just the area planned for an implant. “We can diagnose anything going on with the TMJ joint or the maxillofacial area,” Dr. Martinez said.
A Smooth, Simple Workflow
Patient positioning is intuitive and precise, with the imaging modality and exposure values set via the large 10-inch user interface. Horizontally, the FOV can be positioned freely from the user interface. Vertically, free FOV positioning is achieved by motorized movements of the chinrest. For precise positioning that eliminates the risk of retake exposures, the OP 3D Pro can take a 2D SMARTVIEW scout image before the CBCT examination. From the scout image, the position of the volume can be verified or corrected, if needed.
“Patients love that we have a 3D machine,” Dr. Martinez noted. “They are kind of wowed by it. They also appreciate how fast the images are taken.” Because the imaging process doesn’t take long, it speeds up the workflow as well as the diagnosis process.
The innovative Low Dose Technology of the OP 3D Pro allows for optimized quality in 3D x-ray images with a low dose of radiation. The radiation level can be reduced in dose-sensitive cases such as children and for follow-ups, or increased in cases that require extremely sharp images. With Automatic Dose Control, patient-specific exposure settings are obtained automatically, providing the highest quality images available at the optimal required dose.
The Practice Builder
The OP 3D Pro also ties in with the digital scanning and implant planning technologies that Drs. Hernandez and Martinez are using. “We import the digital scans into the cone beam image and use the imaging software to map out exactly where to place an implant, how to protect the nerve, and to build a guide for the surgery,” Dr. Hernandez said. Dr. Hernandez pointed out that dentists who don’t have CBCT in their practices can refer patients to her practice, which is beneficial for both the patients and the practice. In general, the addition of 3D imaging can result in cost savings by introducing efficiencies in the diagnostic process and increased production thanks to the expanded services.
The opinions expressed here are those of Drs. Hernandez and Martinez and do not reflect those of KaVo Kerr. For OP 3D PRO indications, visit www.kavo.com/us/ifu
