Kodak to Help Provide Enhanced Patient Care for Torino 2006 Olympic Winter Games

Dental imaging and information systems from Kodak’s Health Group have been provided to assist dental staff at the three state-of-the-art Olympic polyclinics-in Torino, Bardonecchia and Sestriere, Italy-to treat craniofacial-dental injuries as well as provide standard dental care and treatment for participating athletes. Throughout the event, a staff of 16 dentists and 12 assistants will use KODAK digital imaging equipment and film for intraoral and extraoral dental exams in the polyclinics, the primary source of dental care for athletes from all over the world.

“Kodak is honored to supply the polyclinics with quality dental imaging systems to assist with treatment and diagnosis of dental-related injuries,” said Rich Hirschland, general manager, dental systems and vice president of Kodak’s dental systems group. “These advanced solutions can streamline processes, improve patient and provider communication and enhance the level of care provided to Olympic athletes.”

In the polyclinics, intraoral examinations will be conducted using KODAK RVG 6000 Digital Radiography Systems that capture and display digital images of individual teeth or sets of teeth on a computer monitor to assist in diagnoses and treatment planning. Other intraoral radiographs will be captured using KODAK INSIGHT Intraoral Dental Film, a high-speed film that reduces radiation exposure up to 60% when compared to D-speed films. KODAK 2000 Intraoral X-Ray Systems capture the images from sensors and film, enabling the dental team to diagnose any problems arising with teeth, including injuries, toothaches, cavities or lost fillings. 

KODAK 1000 Intraoral Video Cameras will provide video images of injuries to the mouth or teeth. With this camera, for example, the dental team can view an image of a cracked tooth on a computer monitor and plan appropriate treatment.

For extraoral examinations, KODAK 8000 Digital Panoramic Systems can produce radiographs with a larger viewing area, including a patient’s face, jaw and throat area. The dental team can use this system to diagnose injuries that may involve bone or a series of teeth, such as trauma that may have resulted in jaw fractures or dislocation.

All dental images will be stored on a KODAK PACS System and shared with radiologists and other specialists in case of heavy facial traumas. Kodak’s on-site dental imaging systems will be powered by KODAK Dental Imaging Software in a DICOM environment which enables remote diagnosis and medical image sharing with off-site or remote hospitals.

Kodak, with sales of $13.5 billion in 2004, is a leader in helping people take, share, print and view images for memories, for information, for business and for entertainment. Kodak’s dental systems group helps dental professionals streamline workflow and enhance patient care by enabling them to capture, share, print and use images and information easily and effectively. Kodak’s dental products and services include: direct-digital intraoral and extraoral dental radiography systems; practice management software and electronic services; dental digital photography systems; inkjet paper for printing photographic-quality digital images; intraoral and extraoral dental imaging films, processing chemistry and x-ray equipment; and a variety of related products and services. Kodak also markets OREX computed radiography systems and COOK-WAITE local anesthetics. All of Kodak’s dental products are backed by the company’s quality customer support.