Dear Imaging & CAD/CAM Insider,
Concerns about a possible relationship between dental x-rays and increased risk of oral cancer were raised last year after an epidemiological study published in the journal Cancer claimed to have found a link between frequent bitewing x-ray exposure and increased risk of developing meningioma, a benign brain tumor.
The study prompted a flurry of media coverage and outcry from organized dentistry, followed by a number of studies intended to empirically debunk the epidemiological study's findings.
Now a new study in Radiation Protection Dosimetry lends further support to the notion that predictions about how much cancer risk exists for patients exposed to radiation from dental bitewings are "highly speculative" and should be discouraged. Read more in this latest Imaging & CAD/CAM Insider Exclusive.
In related news, the increasing adoption of cone-beam CT in dentistry has prompted much discussion of how to control the amount of radiation patients are exposed to. Now researchers from the University of Würzburg have demonstrated that magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a safe and effective option for orthodontic pediatric patients. Read more.
Meanwhile, dental researchers are making progress in their quest to develop a practical MRI device that can be used chairside for hard- and soft-tissue analysis and diagnosis. The trick, they say, is to position the coils in the occlusal plane. Read more.
And cone-beam CT and MRI offer a number of advantages over 2D imaging tools for diagnosing temporomandibular disorders and orofacial pain, according to a paper in Dental Clinics of North America.
Elsewhere in the Imaging & CAD/CAM Community, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has determined that teeth cleaning and x-rays are safe for pregnant women and is urging all obstetricians and gynecologists to recommend routine oral health assessments during a patient's first prenatal visit.
And lessons learned from the lumber industry are enabling a young company in Seattle to develop a new type of ultrasound device that could help dental practices increase productivity and enhance patient care by imaging hard- and soft-tissue structures concurrently -- without radiation. And the price tag's not bad either.
Finally, Henry Schein and E4D Technologies showcased the new E4D NEVO Scanner and Design Center at the recent Business of Dentistry Conference in Las Vegas. In a video chat, Dr. Gary Severance, vice president of marketing and clinical affairs at E4D, discussed the future of digital impressioning; more details about the NEVO can be found here.
