Predictable and Reliable Endodontic Diagnosis With High Resolution CBCT

Chopra's journey into endodontics did not begin as a dental student; it began as a patient when she was 17. "I had a toothache, but my dentist could not figure out where it was coming from," she explains. "I ended up seeing about 7 different specialists, including a neurologist. All of the pain was coming from one tooth, but it was difficult for everyone to figure out what the actual source was." Eventually, Chopra was referred to an oral surgeon for extraction; however, she now realizes that the tooth that was extracted was perfectly restorable. "I remember my oral surgeon looking at the radiograph and asking my mom if we were sure that we wanted the tooth taken out," Chopra says. "At that point, it had been 9 months of my life, and my mom just couldn't handle me being in so much pain anymore, so she felt that an extraction was the only option. I had not, at that point, been offered a root canal procedure."

After the extraction, Chopra's pain did not improve, and that was when she was finally referred to an endodontist. Although the first endodontist that she saw was unable to help, the second made the right diagnosis and changed her life. Soon after experiencing what she refers to as her own "tooth story," Chopra decided to go to dental school, and later, she modeled her philosophy of patient care after the treatment that she received from her endodontist during her experience as a patient. "I try to emulate his behavior every single day," she says. "He really took the time to explain to me what was happening to my body and helped me to accept all of these signs and signals. He was incredibly patient, and he got me out of pain." However, the number one and most important thing, according to Chopra, was that he made the right diagnosis. "For me, an accurate diagnosis has been a thing that I really emphasize," Chopra explains. "I really want to be sure that I'm getting it right before I perform any treatment on my patients. My endodontist changed my life and showed me how to properly care for my patients and empower them to make the right decisions for their bodies, and it all starts with the right diagnosis."

One of the key ways in which Chopra ensures a proper diagnosis is by using the best imaging technology. "I was one of the early adopters of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in my city," she says. Chopra has been using CBCT in her practice since 2012. Chopra's current imaging system of choice is the Veraview X800 by J. MORITA USA. A top-class x-ray combination system, the Veraview X800 offers high resolution image quality for panoramic, 3D, and cephalometric images, ensuring a precise and reliable diagnosis, even in the most demanding cases. With a resolution of more than 2.5 lp/mm at 10% MTF and a voxel size of 80 μm, the Veraview X800 shows even the smallest details, and the system features a wide array of innovative functions to avoid artifacts and automatically optimize images, which provides reliable treatment planning. All in all, the Veraview X800 sets a new standard for what the company refers to as "total performance imaging."

"I was first introduced to J. MORITA's CBCT technology during a hands-on CE course," Chopra says. "I was already in the market for a new CBCT unit and saw that all of the other endodontists in the course were using J. MORITA. The image quality that they were able to achieve really made me reconsider what I was going to buy." In 2020, Chopra transitioned to J. MORITA's Veraview X800 and has not looked back. "I've used multiple CBCT systems, and I will say that I am just mind-blown by what I can see and how differently I can see it on the Veraview X800 images when compared with my previous CBCT scans," she says.

High-quality CBCT imaging is essential for confirming diagnoses and identifying problems that may not be visible in 2D radiographs, but Chopra has found that it is also extremely helpful for planning and performing root canal treatments. "I no longer perform root canal treatments without 3D imaging," she says. "I don't want to end up guessing how many canals a tooth has because, in my experience, many canals are so small that they are very difficult to see. With 3D imaging, however, you can visualize them before you even go inside the tooth, and that gives you a map so that you can preserve tooth structure and work more efficiently." Chopra also uses 3D imaging to help manage her patients' expectations. With the ability to identify complex anatomy beforehand, she can let patients know about how long the treatment should take or if it will take more than one visit to perform. "There's a layer of predictability built in when you can see things in 3D," she explains.

Although Chopra emphasizes that the image quality and enhancement are the greatest benefits of the Veraview X800 for her work inside teeth, she also notes that the system is very intuitive and easy to learn, which is something to look for when adopting any new technology. "I think it's interesting how technology has helped me to grow as a clinician," Chopra says. "It's really easy for clinicians to overlook the value of new technology in the beginning and to shy away from using it. But the more you use it, the more you will see how it benefits both your practice and your patients."

•An extremely high resolution of more than 2.5 lp/mm at 10% MTF and a voxel size of 80 µm permit visualization of even the smallest details.

•A durable mechanical structure with long-term calibration stability contributes to consistent and predictable high quality images.

•Face-to-face positioning, a swiveling control panel, and a panoramic scout function are just a few of the features that make this unit exceptionally easy to use.

CONTACT INFORMATION
J. Morita USA
morita.com/usa
800-831-3222