3-dimensional picture

Dr. William E. Harrell, Jr., Alexander City, Alabama was the first in his state to use the ConeBeam (iCAT by Imaging Sciences). Dr. Harrell is a recognized orthodontist with more than 31 years in practice. He believes that orthodontics is distinguished by a commitment to precision and accuracy similar in concept to physical engineering. "Both fields work in a 3-dimensional world - the engineer designing and modeling physical products, and the orthodontist diagnosing and treating patients," explains Harrell.

Orthodontists have traditionally based their diagnosis and treatment planning on various 2D radiographs and traditional photographs because conventional 3D input devices for capturing living, breathing human subjects have been prohibitively expensive and complex to use - often subjecting a patient to potentially harmful emissions. "Technology advances in the past five years have eroded these barriers to safely make 3D human data input as precise and easy to obtain as 3D physical object input," states Harrell. "Moreover, to further streamline practice workflow, some practice management and imaging management software applications are being reengineered to efficiently handle and analyze these highly precise 3D data formats."

Dr. Harrell finds problems that he was not expecting using 3D imaging, and he says he finds them almost every time he images a patient. "I've found broken necks, fractured cervical vertebrae, airway obstructions and more. All of these can have bearing on my orthodontic treatment plan." Harrell also uses his advanced imaging systems to help keep kids safe and find those children who have gone missing. He provides 3D facial scans of children whose parents enroll them in a national safety program called Kid I.D. Harrell says, "The advantages of 3D imaging are difficult to overstate."

Future growth

In the past several years, the demand for dental services has risen substantially and many markets experienced growth rates well above average. The trend is expected to continue requiring that dentists will need to increase their investments in high-tech equipment.

Baby boomers will play a key role in this growth with an increasing number more likely to require dental procedures, thus expanding the need for equipment - particularly those items that require relatively frequent replacement like hand instruments and tools used with hand pieces. As Sweeney says, "another favorable trend for the dental industry is 'the aging of America,' and the need for preventative and ongoing dental care."

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