Technology

3D Cone Beam CT Imaging

3D Cone Beam CT Imaging has revolutionized the way Endodontics is done by providing a significant improvement over traditional dental radiographs (x-rays). Fife Endodontics is one of the only Endodontic practices in Orange County that has 3D Cone Beam CT Imaging in the office, and Dr. Fife has been using this technology since 2008. A brief description of the importance of Cone Beam imaging is given below:

Traditional dental radiographs (x-rays) are still used in Endodontic treatment; however, there are significant limitations to dental radiographs. The most significant limitation is that they are 2-Dimensional, which significantly limits the amount of information that they provide.

In complex Endodontics Procedures, such as root canals, it is often completely impossible to visualize the location of the canals and the area of disease using traditional X-rays. Because of this and other limitations, areas of the root canals which need to be treated are often missed, and infection is left inside of the tooth. Using 3-D Cone Beam technology, Dr. Fife is able to virtually travel inside the tooth on his computer prior to treatment. This gives him a much clearer view of the complex anatomy of root canals.

2-Dimensional Dental Radiograph showing 3 canals

3D Cone Beam CT image of the same tooth clearly showing 4 canals

Completed Root Canal Treatment of the same tooth—all 4 canals treated

3-D Cone Beam CT Imaging is an important technology which helps overcome the limitations of 2-Dimensional x-rays by providing a 3-Dimensional image of the entire tooth and surrounding jaw. This allows Dr. Fife to consistently provide treatment to his patients in a more effective and safe manner.

The Endodontic Operating Microscope

It is critical that a Doctor can see what he or she is doing in order to consistently have success when performing Endodontic procedures. The introduction of the Operating Microscope has drastically improved Doctors’ ability to locate and treat the complex anatomy of a root canal system. Dr. Fife uses the Operating Microscope on every single procedure that he performs, with no exceptions. The images below demonstrate the difference in visualization between the naked eye, traditional dental magnification, and the endodontic operating microscope used by Dr. Fife.

All of pictures below were taken of the same tooth and are original – there was no copying, cropping, Photo-shopping, or altering in anyway.

View of tooth #30 with the naked eye

Endodontic Operating Microscope at 3.3X magnification – common dental magnification

Endodontic Operating Microscope at 5.0X magnification – also a common dental magnification

Endodontic Operating Microscope at 8.0X magnification

Endodontic Operating Microscope at 12.5X magnification

Endodontic Operating Microscope at 20.0X magnification

Dr. Fife normally operates between 8.0X and 30.0X magnification during his procedures. Please see pictures below which were taken at high magnification during procedures.

Root canal visualization

Internal staining underneath a crown

Detailed microfracture anatomy

3 Root canals located in a single root

Pulp exposure due to a fracture of a front tooth

Detailed view of root irregularities