Bethesda Endodontist Offers 3D Cone Beam Technology for Diagnosis and Treatment of Dental Disease

Drs. Levin, Mischenko and Jong at Bethesda-Chevy Chase Root Canal Specialists were the first office in the U.S. to employ limited field of view, high resolution, 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT).  Radiography is essential to the successful diagnosis and treatment of dental disease.  CBCT produces three dimensional images similar to medical CT, but the radiation dose is much lower and the resolution of the images much higher. Where is the tradeoff? CBCT does not show soft tissue details as well as medical CT, but produces a very clear and geometrically accurate representation of the teeth and bone. Endodontists and other dental surgeons have found that CBCT scans are most helpful to diagnose abscessed teeth where the overlying bone is very dense or other anatomic features are superimposed on the image.

In contrast to medical CT technology, CBCT scanners require only one 20 second rotation around the patient’s head, and produces the final study less than 30 seconds later. This means that in most cases a scan can be exposed and read during most consultation appointments. CBCT scans are especially useful for evaluation of retreatments, dental trauma where a root or jaw fracture may be present, cases of resorption, medically complex patients, and before surgical procedures.

In 2009, Dr. Levin co-authored an authoritative description of the use of CBCT in endodontics that was published in the International Journal of Dentistry and has been cited by 55 other articles in the academic literature. Since that early report on the use of CBCT in endodontic treatment, Drs. Levin, Mischenko and Jong have produced additional scientific articles that have been published in peer reviewed journals. Recently, the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Root Canal Specialists has conducted a continuing education seminar on CBCT for area dentists to raise awareness of this new technology.

About the Author

Dr. Martin Levin is an experienced Endodontist in Chevy Chase, MD. Connect with him on Google+