Products in Practice: SoproLIFE in my practice

I remember when Andrew Allison (our SoproLIFE rep) came to my office for an intraoral camera demonstration in the fall of 2009. He said, “Dr. Vasquez, I’m going to show you a breakthrough in dental technology-an intraoral camera and caries detection device all in one.”

He explained how the camera works: using auto fluorescence technology, the user can easily switch lighting from white LED (or Daylight mode) that allows you to use SoproLIFE as a normal intraoral camera with quality images, to blue LED (light-induce fluorescence evaluator) caries detection mode.

While enabling the detection of caries more easily missed by eye or x-ray, SoproLIFE works with three different settings in imaging taking:

• Portrait (Daylight Mode)

• Intraoral (Diagnosis Mode)

• Macro (Treatment Mode)

I told Andrew I needed to see the product in use on real patients, and I can say that after seeing SoproLIFE in action, I was sold.

I want my diagnosis to be the most accurate and I want my patients to understand the diagnosis and treatment proposed. This process has been simplified by the excellent images taken with SoproLIFE.

Now one of the most important diagnostic tools in my practice, SoproLIFE is my go-to for the detection of early caries, defective amalgams or composites and broken restorations; and part of my armamentarium during treatment using the Macro mode for the detection of cracked teeth, broken cuspids.

Our case acceptance, productivity, patient satisfaction and insurance payments all increased in 2011, in no small part because of the impact of SoproLIFE.

Benefits in action
With this technology, I can practice minimally invasive dentistry-where the principal philosophy is to be more conservative and preserve more tooth structure-by early detection of decay and repairing the effects of old, fractured and defective restorations, large cavities and cracked teeth (Figs. 1-3).

Here are two cases worth referencing:

Case I
A 43-year-old male came to the office for a routine checkup. After taking an x-ray and intraoral images we detected an asymptomatic broken tooth and restoration (Fig 4). After removal of the restoration we detected a horizontal fracture from mesio to distal of the crown (Fig. 5), changing the treatment plan to endodontic treatment and possible extraction. After accessing the pulp chamber and using SoproLIFE in Macro mode (Fig. 6) we determined how best to finish the root canal, build up and crown. Risk, benefits and options were given and the patient understands if he starts having any pain or infection, extraction and implant will be the next step.

Case II
A 37-year-old female patient came in for a routine exam and cleaning. FMX and intraoral images are taken, and tooth No. 2 presented with a large composite filling and crack (Fig 7). We recommended full coverage. Images from preparation (Fig. 8) and for the final delivered crown (Fig 9).