Precision, Innovation, and Digitalization: Dr. John H. Tucker Discusses RAYFace and 3D Imaging

Please tell us about yourself and your practice.

I attended the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine and graduated in 1982. I am a Diplomate of the American Board of Dental Sleep Medicine and the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. In 2021, I was invited to become an adjunct associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine. My role is to educate the graduate prosthodontic residents regarding sleep-related breathing disorders and oral appliance therapy for the CPAP-intolerant patient. I have a private practice in Erie, Pa. My prac­tice focuses on fixed and removable prosth­odontics, implants, sleep-related breathing conditions, and TMJ disorders. I have been honored to educate dentists and their teams globally on treating sleep-related breathing con­ditions for the past 15 years.

Dr. John H. Tucker

Why and how is 3D face scanning relevant in dentistry?

When I started in 1982, I became very inter­ested in intraoral photography and high-qual­ity photos of a patient’s pre- and post-aesthetic treatment. Then we began to see technology that included 3D images. Everything we view in life is 3-dimensional, including the face and dentition. Moving from 2D to 3D was logical, giving a com­prehensive preview of the patient’s treatment.

What does 3D offer that 2D doesn’t?

RAYFace Software Interface

My biggest thing is the depth perception you do not get in 2D. Depth perception can be deceiving, especially in an aesthetic case. The facial profile, lip-line, buccal corridor, occlusion, and function are essential for a successful aesthetic outcome. Previewing the treatment, visually pre­senting it to a patient, and communicating with the dental laboratory in a 3D view is invaluable.

I use Ray America’s 3D facial scanner, RAY­Face, because of the technology and capabilities. The spectacular resolution, ease of use, and images from RAYFace are superior to anything I’ve used previously.

How do you incorporate and use RAYFace in your practice?

I’m currently focusing on it for my full-mouth rehabilitation cases and implant reconstruc­tions, especially in the anterior maxillary area (the aesthetic zone). I’m focused on the airway and would like to see if there’s a correlation between the patient’s presentation and his or her profile and phenotype to see if we can correlate that

to the airway. All dental treatment has either a positive or a negative effect on airway health. The ability to see the patient in 3D and overlay a CBCT image is an asset for me to know what I will encounter with the case. Not only is form important but we also need to honor function. The ability to conceptualize the proposed treat­ment and to communicate that information to the dental laboratory in 3D makes the case go very smoothly with more predictable outcomes.

The digitalization of dentistry has become a necessity as it revolutionizes traditional approaches. Considering this transformation, how can both RAYFace and CBCT be used in a digital workflow?

There needs to be documentation of why you are taking a CBCT scan. If a patient has a history of trauma, a recent change in his or her bite or any TMJ pain would be a reason to obtain a scan. If a CBCT scan is warranted, it can provide additional information regarding the proposed treatment. An example would be airway and TMJ health.

Do you have anything else to say to Dentistry Today’s readers?

A: Honoring the human dentition, the oral cav­ity, and the airway is essential. I think that through AI and RAYFace, we will be able to do that better than we’ve done in the past. This will pro­vide the patient with a predictable treatment out­come with lasting results that honor and protect the airway, leading to a better quality of life.