The New Gendex DP-700 Pan

For an idea of what a "state of the art" digital pan has for resolution and detail, click the image above to see it full size.

As most of you will remember, we recently installed the new Gendex GX DP-700 digital pan machine in my office.  The "700", as we have taken to calling it, is a pretty amazing piece of technology.  Also, as you can see above, it produces some stunningly beautiful radiographs.

We've had the device in service now since October 28th and it has impressed us from day one.  The DP-700 is the newest device in the Gendex pano line and is upgradeable with features such as a ceph arm and 3D cone beam capabilities.  It even has the really cool feature of being able to take bitewing radiographs should the need arise.

We decided to upgrade our pan capabilities for a couple of reasons.  The first was that our previous machine, the Gendex 9200, was starting to get a "bit" long in the tooth and the second is that the DP-700 allows us to take "half mouth" 3D cone beam scans.

The half mouth scans are important to us since I do a fair number of endodontic retreat cases which are always easier when you first have a 3D scan to work with.  My philosophy of retreatment is that there is a reason why the retreat is needed and it makes the treatment more predictable by having as much information preoperatively as possible.  It's pretty amazing when you look at a case and find an untreated accessory canal or some type of bifurcation or other oddity that would be impossible to see without 3D.

We're also placing more and more implants and having a smaller volume of scan means we get just as much information with less exposure, which is always a good thing.

Add to that the fact that we're getting images like the one above on our panoramics and you can see why we're so excited about the DP-700.  If  you are looking for a pan that can provide every option right now... or in the future, give it thorough consideration.

CarieScan Pro Evaluation Beginning Today

Starting today, we'll be doing clinical testing on the CarieScan Pro device. I've begun to classify digital caries diagnostic devices into 2 categories: 1. Probe Type and 2. Visual.

The CariesScan, according to my classification system, is a probe type device and joins the category that is already occupied by Kavo's "Diagnodent and Midwest's Caries I.D.

This device uses technology similar to today's state of the art apex locators... that is electrical impedance. In fact, it uses a technology called AC Impedance Spectroscopy. Here's how it works: A small electrical current is passed through the patient's tooth and the response is measured. Comparison of the response with the applied signal leads to the impedance & impedance is the electrical parameter that is directly influenced by the physical properties of the material being investigated. It is stated to detect 92.5% of sound and 92.5% of carious teeth correctly.

In order to get these readings, a hook shaped lip connector is attached to the base of the device via a wire and the hook is looped over the patient's lip. These lip connectors are autoclavable while the tip that actually touches the tooth is single use and disposable. The tips come in boxes of 20 and contain 2 new lip connectors in each package. The device is covered with a specially designed sheath that covers the device except for the disposable tooth.

We'll be putting it through the tests for a month or so. If you are planning on attending my caries detection lecture next week in Chicago, I may have some very early opinions on the device, but no guarantees. I will definitely be covering CarieScan Pro in the presentation, though.

Questions or comments? I'd love to hear them. Oh, and for those interested... I'm feeling much better today.