That Time of Year
by Wm. Randol Womack, DDS, Board Certified Orthodontist
Editorial Director, Orthotown Magazine
Every year around this time, kids start moping around while mom and dad start dancing
in the aisles of Office Max and Staples – it's back-to-school time, aka, Mom's Independence
Day! It's also around this time of year that my orthodontic practice sees record appointments
of students whose parents want them to get in one last time before school begins.
I'm also happy to say around this time of year is when Orthotown Magazine presents its
annual focus on cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) 3D digital imaging. In the
last few years, CBCT has been everything from a buzzword to a game changer in the orthodontic
specialty, and it has been a major focus for this publication as we've looked at the
possibilities and liabilities of this technology. Personally, in 2009, having returned from
the Third International Congress on 3D Dental Imaging, my eyes were opened wide to the
potential of CBCT and I'd written my September 2009 column about what I found and
how I believed the technology would revolutionize the orthodontic profession. Ever since,
we've looked at as many aspects of CBCT as possible, and will continue to do so in this and
future issues of Orthotown Magazine.
I'm sure you noticed the special continuing
education supplement in our July/August issue
titled "Interpreting the CBCT Data Volume in
Orthodontic Cases, Part 1" written by CBCT
guru, Dr. Dale Miles. We are very excited to
present this two-part series that Dr. Miles put
together for you, and we are pleased to present
Part 2 in this month's issue. Dr. Miles' previous
contribution to Orthotown Magazine was in
September 2009, and he closed his contribution
by saying, "Do not wait! Get trained, get ready
and get started!" That was two years ago, already!
If you haven't, I implore you to go back to your July/August issue and tear out the first part
of Dr. Miles' CBCT CE series. When you're finished with it, check out the second and final
part in this issue. Even if CBCT is something you've only casually thought about, you owe it
to yourself to read Dr. Miles' articles.
In this issue, we focus on the truth about CBCT radiation. The currently featured speakers
on CBCT are being polled to compile a resource article to expose and refute some misquoted
and alarming references to the "abuse" of using CBCT in orthodontics. In my practice,
as well as yours, we require an accurate representation of this issue, to feel reassured that we are
not only using the ALARA principle in our practice but also so we can confidently discuss the
truth about this technology with our patients and their parents.
In addition to the time I spend working on Orthotown Magazine, I am already registered
for the Fifth International Congress on 3D Dental Imaging, which will be November 4-5,
2011, in Dallas, Texas. If you are still considering CBCT, if you are beginning to utilize cone
beam images or if you are regularly using cone beam technology in your practice, you will
greatly benefit by attending the International Congress in Dallas.
As Dr. Miles declared two years ago, it's time to get trained, get ready and get started! See
you in Dallas! |