Castle Park Dental

“The Tooth And Nothing But The Tooth”

  By Chris “Dr Smile Maker” Branfield

Dentistry Moves On At

Pace -3D Scanning

Hello again, I hope you are well.  Well, as I write Hull City are top of the table!!  The last 20 minutes against Middlesbrough was like an exhibition match.  A great win and performance.  Well done lads, lets get back up to the top flight again.  Somebody told me that last months article made them laugh and cry.  I must say that’s how I feel when I talk about our trips to Morocco treating the kids.

Dentistry Moves On

In September I went on a whirlwind trip to Helsinki on my quest to find the right Dental Cone Beam CT Scanner.  I wanted a machine to replace my film based large X-ray unit for 2D images of the jaws but also a machine that can give great quality 3D images of teeth, jaws and sinus.  I must say I was blown away by this kit.

To get a 3D scan we used to have to send people to hospital for a conventional CT scan.  This gave a very large image with a relatively high radiation dose.  Then we couldn’t read the data and had to send off to a different company to make sense of it.  This took time and was expensive.

With the new Dental Cone Beam CT scans we can get smaller, more specific images and the dose is reduced by loads. Also, they come with software that we use to view them and make accurate measurements.  This reduces cost somewhat.

Why 3D?                                                                                             

Normal xray images show detail in just 2 dimensions.  Most of the time this is enough but for more detailed diagnosis and treatment planning we need 3D.  It is useful when things are superimposed.  Examples of this include seeing exactly where a nerve is in relation to a wisdom tooth.  Another example is planning implants.  A normal 2D X-ray will show bone height but not how thick it is.

CBCT scan shows far more detail in 3D        

Detailed Dental Implant Planning

So, 3D planning can really improve diagnosis and planning and most importantly SAFETY.  I bet that’s got your pulse racing!  Ho Ho Ho, I know I am such an anorak.

Berlin Here I Come

Next week I’m off to Berlin to do my exam for my Mastership In Dental Lasers.  There is an International Conference at the same time and we have to do some case presentations to conference.  No pressure then!  Wish me luck.

Until next time.   Take care and be good.  Have a great Christmas and all the best for the New Year.

Chris Branfield is Principal Dentist at Castle Park Dental Care, Castle Villa, 28 Castle Road, Cottingham, telephone 01482 772550.  He has been in dental practice for 22 years and has a special interest in life changing, pain free dentistry with dental implants, rapid teeth straightening and cosmetic dentistry. And, not only that Chris is founder member and trustee of Dental Mavericks charity- ending the daily dental pain of Moroccan kids. For more patient success stories and Chris’s charity work go here now www.castleparkdental.co.uk