Ken Rosenblood, CEO of HealthFirst (one of our reseller partners) was interviewed by Dentistry Today, and he chose to speak about radiation minimization and Tru-Align.

Read the full article here.

While we know dental x-rays are safe, they can be made even better. Tru-Align reduces x-ray exposure by up to 70%, and eliminates harmful scatter radiation.

Do you have the Green Ring? If not, find out how Tru-Align can benefit doctors, staff, and patients by clicking here.

• Dental X-rays can double brain tumor risk, study finds (MSNBC)
  
• Early Dental X-Rays Linked to Brain Tumors (ABC News)
• Dental X-rays linked to brain tumors: study (CBS News)
• Dental X-Rays Linked to Increased Brain Tumor Risk (Yahoo! News)
• Brain tumors linked to dental X-rays (CNN)

News like this, and the extensive media coverage, may have you fearful and apprehensive about the dental x-rays you have made.

While we can't comment on the validity of the quoted study, we can tell you that dental x-rays are very safe, and there are ways and products to make them even safer. The Tru-Align laser-aligning collimator, a simple device that attaches to your dentist's x-ray machine, does just that by reducing your exposure to scatter ionizing radiation by up to 70%. Your dentist is very likely also using faster x-ray film or digital x-ray sensors; both require and use much less radiation. Your dentists may also use rectangular collimation, Thyroid collars and lead aprons for added protection.

If you're a patient, find out more about how Tru-Align benefits your overall health, and be sure to ask your doctor if they have the Green Ring.

And, if you're a dentist, read more about Tru-Align and how it can benefit your office as well as your patients.

Intraoral x-ray procedures comprise a significant part of the services provided in most US dental offices. It has been reported that retakes and cone cuts are a noticeable problem in many dental offices, plus patients are becoming increasingly more concerned about unnecessary radiation, especially to their children. A revolutionary new x-ray add-on device, Tru-Align™, provides a cost-effective solution for your patient’s concerns about excess radiation while also helping your staff provide improved x-ray images. Significantly decreased scatter radiation, improved diagnostic quality images, plus almost zero retakes!

Purchase Tru-Align today at the special price of $595 - a savings of 25% off the normal price - through April 30, 2012. Add Tru-Align to your cart below, or visit our Tru-Align Page for more information. Enter code INTRAORAL when checking out, or call us at 855-IDI-XRAY and mention code INTRAORAL.

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You wear gloves, sterilize your instruments, and disinfect your work surfaces and use barrier protection. By practicing these and other universal standards, you assume you are keeping your patients and staff as safe as possible in the practice environment.

But what about radiation safety? You provide aprons with thyroid protection, are judicious about taking radiographs only when diagnostically necessary, and use high-speed film or digital sensors. By practicing these standards, recommended by the ADA,1 CDC, and National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurement (NCRP and state radiation guidelines), again you assume you are doing everything you can to minimize patient and staff exposure to ionizing radiation. However, if you are taking only these steps, you are not enough.

Read more on the Inside Dental Assisting web site...

Use rectangular collimation to support the film. These devices further reduce patient exposure to less than half that received by conventional round collimation.

He also covered the importance of ALARA:

The guiding principle of radiation protection is ALARA: All exposures should be as low as reasonably achievable.

IDI delivers a rectangular collimation solution that is grounded in the ALARA principle.

A very interesting analysis of the radiation concerns over cone-beam CT is also covered later in the article.

Based on a recent survey of 1,500 dentists in the Quarterly Survey of Economic Confidence, there seems to be a "cautious optimism" in the direction of the market.  While dental procedures are not at their pre-recession levels, there is a trend upward.

Key takeaways from the article include the following:

• The percentage of dentists reporting less favorable conditions decreased from 51 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 42 percent in the first quarter of 2011.
• Nearly 10 percent more dentists reported more favorable conditions in gross billing compared to the fourth quarter and there was a 1 percent increase in the no change category. The number of dentists who reported a less favorable condition decreased from nearly 44 percent to 36 percent.
• Dentists reported seeing more new patients this quarter. There was a 10 percent movement away from the less favorable category and dentists who reported an increase in new patients rose from 14 percent in the fourth quarter of 2010 to 23 percent in the first quarter of 2011.
• Treatment acceptance rates improved by more than 3 percent.

You can read the full article on the ADA website.

We were lucky enough to have some of the biggest KOLs in dentistry taking a keen interest in our product, including Dr. Larry Emmott, who stopped by and was kind enough to blog about the Tru-Align.  Here's an excerpt from his post:
 

The collimator reduces scatter radiation and improves image quality. Reducing scatter reduces patient exposure. This is great for those patients who are worried about radiation.

The aiming device uses lasers and magnets to perfectly align the cone and the sensor. When it is aligned properly it beeps and snaps into place, even a rookie can take perfect radiographs with virtually no retakes.

How was your CDA?  Let us know if you had a chance to stop by the booth and if you have any questions in the comments below.

The flurry of recent media coverage--from Dr. Oz to the New York Times--about medical and dental x-ray safety has created misinformation and needless worry among healthcare consumers. An important story is unfolding at the Anaheim Convention Center from Thursday May 12 through Saturday May 14 as Interactive Diagnostic Imaging (IDI) unveils its revolutionary Tru-Align dental x-ray machine add-on. Tru-Align lowers dental-x-ray radiation exposure by as much as 60-70%, allaying patient fears and concerns and ensuring the safest and most beneficial dental office visit.

Members of the media can learn about Tru-Align live and up close at Booth 1284 during the California Dental Association’s annual spring trade show at the Anaheim Convention Center. Tru-Align reps will be demonstrating Tru-Align and answering questions on Thursday, May 12, 9:30 to 5:30; Friday, May 13, 9:30 to 6; and Saturday, May 14, 9:30-4:30. Press passes to the session are available at no cost by registering on site at the Press Booth located in the main registration area.

To schedule a demo/interview with an IDI principal and/or Tru-Align developer, contact Lisa Schwartz by email at lisa@99ronin.com or by phone at 213-500-4170.

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Here’s some background on dental x-rays and Tru-Align:

Fact: X-rays are an important and necessary diagnostic tool for early detection of dental disease. Early detection means early intervention, which means lower-cost and less-invasive treatment.

Fact: Dental x-ray exposures are very low. A single bitewing x-ray produces less than half the radiation as a chest x-ray. A set of x-rays of the whole mouth, taken every five years, produces 100 times less radiation than an average person is exposed to from environmental sources in the same time.

Fact: The cumulative effect of exposure to x-ray over long periods of time is not known.

Do no harm

The Hippocratic Oath says that oral health professionals are “bound” by the ALARA principle when it comes to taking x-rays. ALARA stands for “as low as reasonably achievable.” In other words, the dental team follows specific procedures to minimize radiation exposure that are practiced universally…almost.

Among them:

• Only take x-rays when necessary for accurate diagnosis.
• Use the fastest methods possible (either the highest speed film or digital x-rays)
• Use proper patient protection (lead aprons and thyroid covering)

And yes, these procedures are followed in virtually all dental practices. The ALARA protocol is endorsed by all of the most-recognized sources of radiation safety guidelines, such as the National Council on Radiation Protection and the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiography. But there is another very important procedure that is currently followed in very few dental practices.

Change the shape, reduce the radiation

Widely ignored, a key component of the ALARA protocol is the use of “rectangular collimation” as a method of reducing radiation exposure. Most patients recognize that round cone at the end of the x-ray machine. It emits a large circular beam of radiation that makes it easy to aim at and take an x-ray of the desired area. But the round cone also emits a lot of scatter radiation that is absorbed by the patient instead of the film or digital device. Rectangular collimation creates a smaller, rectangular beam that dramatically reduces this useless and dangerous scatter radiation.

Here’s the problem: all members of the oral health team are taught to use round cone x-ray machines in their formal training, so that is what they are familiar with. Additionally, rectangular collimation systems make it difficult to obtain good x-rays, much less get an image of what they are actually looking for. Until now.

Tru-Align

Technically, Tru-Align is a “rectangular collimator” that can reduce patient exposure to radiation by as much as 60-70% and it allows dentists and their teams to use familiar techniques and it provides more accurate, useful x-rays. For patients, this means safer visits, better care. For dentists, this means all the previous problems are eliminated.

Unobtrusive and non-threatening, Tru-Align simply attaches to the end of the round cone of the dentist’s existing x-ray machine and features a distinctive green ring, making it easy to identify. Patients are encouraged to “Look for the green ring” on their dentists’ x-ray machine to make sure they are receiving the safest x-rays and the most accurate diagnosis.

Educated consumers are the best—and safest—patients

Patients also are urged to talk to their dentists about the practice’s radiation safety measures. And if they don’t “see the green ring,” a key part of this conversation should be the use of Tru-Align. The simple truth is that all dental patients deserve the safest and most accurate x-rays and are entitled to demand this of their dentists. Tru-Align is a very affordable technology and there is no reason why every dentist shouldn’t have one on every x-ray machine.

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Complete details on Tru-Align are available at www.IDIXray.com or by calling toll-free 855-IDI-XRAY. Additionally, Dr. Michael Razzano, CEO of Interactive Diagnostic Imaging, Tru-Align’s manufacturer, is available for interviews. Video and images are available as well. Contact Lisa Schwartz by email at lisa@99ronin.com or by phone at 213-500-4170.

About Interactive Diagnostic Imaging (IDI)
Interactive Diagnostic Imaging (www.IDIXray.com) focuses on the design, patenting and marketing of advanced x-ray imaging equipment and related digital technology products, predominantly for the dental market. Five core products are being designed and patent protected, with the participation of leading dentists and university researchers. IDI products dramatically enhance diagnostic services while improving profitability. IDI’s product line is an integrated group of products that provide a total solution to in-office imaging and diagnosis, especially at the point of care.

See Full Interactive Press Release at PRWeb

Register here: http://www.trualignwebinar.com

How are you combating this negative press in your practice?

We would love to hear your thoughts on this ADA statement on reducing patient exposure to dental x-rays--please leave your comments below.

Recently you may have heard about increased discussions via email and social media networks about the safety of dental X-rays. Much of the discussion stems from an unnamed individual who referenced a Dr. Oz show that aired "last Wed" advising women to ask for a thyroid collar when receiving a mammogram or dental x-ray to reduce radiation exposure. The individual encouraged people to share this information, and it has been spreading through social media networks and via email.

Dr. Oz discusses his controversial advice about requesting thyroid guards during mammograms and dental x-rays.

It is possible the individual is referring to a Dr. Oz program that actually aired Sept. 28, 2010. The episode focused on thyroid cancer, and during a portion of the show, Dr. Oz promoted the use of protective leaded aprons and thyroid collars to reduce radiation exposure, a practice the ADA recommends in The Selection of Patients for Dental Radiographic Examinations developed by the ADA and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

While the ADA believes the radiation exposure from dental X-rays is low relative to other sources, every precaution should be taken to ensure that radiation exposure is as low as reasonably achievable (the ALARA principle). The ADA recommends that dentists use leaded aprons and leaded thyroid collars (or non-lead equivalents) whenever possible. This practice is strongly recommended for children, women of childbearing age and pregnant women who are especially susceptible to radiation effects.

The ADA also recommends conducting a thorough clinical examination, considering the patient's history, reviewing any prior X-rays, performing a caries risk assessment and considering both the dental and the general health needs of the patient prior to taking any X-rays. When x-rays are necessary, the ADA recommends that dentists use the fastest imaging receptor and use a rectangular collimator. There is no recommended frequency for panoramic radiograph or full-mouth surveys. The only imaging examination with a frequency recommendation is the bitewing—its frequency is based on an assessment of the patient's caries risk.

Recently, a physician with the American Cancer Society posted a detailed discussion about thyroid cancer on a CNN blog and noted the ADA guidelines for the use of leaded aprons and thyroid collars. The following discussion points and links to resources may be helpful in talking with patients about the issue of x-ray safety:

• Many oral diseases can't be detected on the basis of a visual and tactile examination alone. Dental X-ray exams are valuable in providing information about your oral health such as early stage cavities, gum diseases, abscesses or some types of tumors. X-rays can help dentists catch and treat oral health problems at an early stage.
• How often dental X-rays should be taken depends on your oral health condition, your age, your risk for disease and any signs and symptoms of oral disease you may be experiencing. Let's talk about what is right for you.
• The American Dental Association has information about dental X-rays on its Web site atADA.org if you would like more information.