2024 Meeting

Dr. Donald Alton Tyndall, DDS, MSPH, PhD, ABOMR, FICD

Dr. Don Tyndall is Professor in the Division of Diagnostic Sciences at the UNC Adams School of Dentistry. Dr. Tyndall graduated from UNC-CH in 1973 with majors in Biology and Ancient History. He received his D.D.S. in 1980 from the UNC School of Dentistry, his M.S.P.H. in Environmental Sciences and Engineering in 1984 specializing in Health Physics and his Ph.D. in 1988 in Health Physics from the UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health. 

Dr. Tyndall was the Director of Radiology for the School of Dentistry from 1988 to 2019. He was the creator of the UNC Adams School of Dentistry’s graduate program in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and served as its director from 1993-2006.  Currently he is serving as Director of the Oral & Maxillofacial Radiology Predoctoral Program. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology and was a Director and past President from 1995-1999. Dr. Tyndall has twice served as the Councillor for Scientific Affairs and Public Policy on the Executive Council of the American Academy of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology (AAOMR). From 2000-2006 he served on the Radiology Review Committee of the Commission on Dental Accreditation. Dr. Tyndall served as President of the AAOMR in 2022-2023. In addition, he is a Fellow in the International College of Dentists and the American College of Dentists. 

Dr. Tyndall currently serves on the Editorial Board of the Journal of the American Dental Association and is a member of the Journal of Endodontics Scientific Advisory Board as an expert in artificial Intelligence. He has also served as consultant to several dental imaging companies specializing in artificial intelligence, dental MRI, and intraoral tomosynthesis.

His research interests include artificial intelligence for radiologic diagnosis in 2D and 3D imaging, development of a novel multisource carbon nanotube x-ray system for cone beam CT units, 2D and 3D caries detection, applications of CBCT, MRI and stationary intraoral tomosynthesis (sIOT) in dentistry. His work as author or co-author has been published in over 130 journal articles.

Course Description:

The past few decades have seen remarkable changes in radiographic imaging

technology for dentistry in general and for endodontics specifically. Advances in digital radiography for both intraoral and cone beam CT have led the way to an extraordinary increase in diagnostic capabilities. Meanwhile, in the background, other more advanced technologies are being developed, which will have great influence over diagnostic imaging for the practice of endodontics. These emerging technologies will provide a “new vision” for current and future practitioners. These technologies are artificial intelligence, dedicated dental MRI, stationary intraoral tomosynthesis, and second generation cone beam CT x-ray sources based on multiple carbon nanotube and dual energy x-ray sources. This course will focus on the underlying principles of each system, how they can improve endodontic diagnosis and what are some of the clinical applications where information beyond current imaging technologies may be provided. Indeed, we are standing on the precipice of another golden age of imaging for the practice of endodontics.

Learning  Objectives

At the end of this course the participant should be able to:

1. Discuss the advantages of AI as applied to 2D and 3D radiologic interpretation.

2. List potential applications of ddMRI for the interpretation of dentoalveolar and maxillofacial disease and abnormalities.

3. Describe sIOT technology and potential improvements over conventional intraoral imaging.

4. List the technological changes in second generation CBCT x-ray sources and potential improvements over current CBCT systems

To encourage THEA pride, those who will attend this beach meeting will be getting a custom Stanley inspired THEA cup for happy sipping on the beach.