The way we were (and how we got here): fifty years of technology changes in dental and maxillofacial radiology

Abstract

The history of the last 50 years (1970-2020) of technological changes and progresses for equipment and procedures in dental and maxillofacial radiology is related from the insider perspective of an industrial physicist and technologist who has been instrumental at innovating and developing medical equipment in different parts of the world. The onset and improvement of all major categories of dental and maxillofacial radiographic equipment is presented, from the standpoint of their practical acceptance and impact among common dentists and maxillofacial radiologists: X-ray sources and detectors for intraoral radiography, and panoramic systems, both film-based and digital (including photo-stimulated phosphor plates); and cone beam CT.

Keywords: Cone Beam CT; Dental Radiology; Dentistry History; Digital Imaging; Radiology History.

Figure 1.

The tubehead of Oralix 50 by Philips, a popular dental intraoral X-ray of the ‘70 s (50 kV AC, short pointed cone). AC, alternate current.

Figure 2.

Panex by J. Morita, a panoramic machine from 1971. (Picture courtesy of Yoshito Sugihara, J.Morita Mfg. Corporation)

Figure 3.

Rotograph (first series) by FIAD, a panoramic machine of the late 70’s. (Picture courtesy of Fabio Curti, Villa Sistemi Medicali)

Figure 4.

Planmeca PM 2002 CC (late 80’s), one of the first panoramic machines to be microprocessor-controlled (with SCARA robotic technology), and the first to feature patient standing at 90° from the wall, thus facilitating its accurate positioning by the operator. (Picture courtesy of Timo Muller, Planmeca)

Figure 5.

Scanora by Soredex, a panoramic system that included spiral-tomographic capabilities for cross-sectional views of the jaws and the TMJs (early 90’s).

Figure 6.

Zonarc by Siemens (early 80’s), a panoramic machine for supine patient with multiple choice of image layer shapes.

Figure 7.

A young Francis Mouyen and a young patient being radiographically examined with Trophy RVG 25000 (late 80’s), the first dental electronic imaging system. (Picture courtesy of Bruno Ehrmann, CS Dental)

Figure 8.

The author at the EADMFR congress in Turin, Italy, in July 1993, holding an early version of the Gendex Visualix dental intraoral X-ray digital detector, with holder/positioner), next to a Gendex Oralix DC, one of the first direct-voltage dental X-ray sources, with rectangular collimator/PID. (Picture courtesy of Yoshihiko Hayakawa, Kitami Technical College). PID, positioning indicating device

Figure 9.

The prototype of NewTom 9000 by QR (1996), the first commercial dentomaxillofacial CBCT machine. (Picture courtesy of Attilio Tacconi). CBCT cone beam CT.

Figure 10.

An early NewTom 9000 installed at the radiology department of the Sundsvall Hospital, Sweden, with Per Nelvig and staff. (Picture courtesy of Claudiano Tagliareni)

Figure 11.

A young Predrag Sukovic sitting in the first pre-production unit of DentoCat/iCat (that he was instrumental at developing), at the Dental School of the University of Michigan in 2003. (Picture courtesy of Neil Clinthorne, University of Michigan)