Dr. Bruno Azevedo, DDS, MS

Internationally recognized as “The Cone Beam Guy,” Dr. Bruno Azevedo is an Oral and Maxillofacial Radiologist, Endodontist, educator, and pioneer in three-dimensional dental imaging. He is widely regarded as one of the leading authorities on the clinical integration of cone beam computed tomography, particularly for endodontic diagnosis, treatment planning, and the management of complex cases.

For more than two decades, Dr. Azevedo has helped clinicians move beyond simply acquiring CBCT scans to understanding how imaging technology, acquisition protocols, software optimization, interpretation, and clinical decision-making must work together. His practical and systematic approach has made him a highly sought-after lecturer and educator across dental specialties.

Dr. Azevedo’s connection to dental imaging began early in life. As the son of one of Latin America’s pioneers in oral and maxillofacial radiology, he grew up immersed in the profession and worked in his family’s imaging laboratory. This early exposure allowed him to develop an uncommon combination of technical knowledge, clinical insight, and hands-on experience that would later define his career.

He earned his dental degree from Gama Filho University in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and subsequently pursued advanced training in dental radiology through the University of São Paulo’s Bauru Dental School. Recognizing the transformative potential of three-dimensional imaging, he acquired his first CBCT scanner in 2003. In 2004, he developed one of the first freely available CBCT viewing platforms, an innovation that attracted international attention and contributed to his invitation to continue his education at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio.

Under the mentorship of Dr. Robert Langlais, Dr. Azevedo completed a Master of Science in Dental Diagnostic Sciences and a Certificate in Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology. He later became a Diplomate of the American Board of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, one of the highest professional distinctions in the specialty.

His extensive experience interpreting three-dimensional imaging for endodontic diagnosis led him to pursue a second specialty. Dr. Azevedo completed his advanced training in endodontics at Albert Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, one of the most technologically progressive endodontic programs in the United States. Under the guidance of Dr. Fred Barnett and Dr. Stephen Niemczyk, he expanded his expertise in advanced diagnosis, microsurgical and nonsurgical endodontics, laser-assisted irrigation, and the integration of emerging technologies into clinical care.

This dual specialization gives Dr. Azevedo a distinctive perspective. He understands CBCT not only as a radiologist interpreting complex anatomy and disease, but also as an endodontist using that information to make treatment decisions, manage procedural risk, locate untreated anatomy, identify fractures and resorptive defects, plan surgery, and improve patient outcomes.

Dr. Azevedo has also held significant academic leadership positions. He served as a founding faculty member at the Western University of Health Sciences College of Dental Medicine, where he helped develop an innovative and integrated dental curriculum. He later served as Director and Division Head at the University of Louisville School of Dentistry, where he established a comprehensive three-dimensional imaging program serving the dental school, specialty clinics, and advanced residency programs.

Throughout his career, Dr. Azevedo has authored peer-reviewed publications and book chapters on advanced dental imaging and its clinical applications. He has lectured in more than 20 countries and has trained thousands of general dentists, specialists, residents, educators, and dental teams.

He is the founder and creator of the internationally recognized Cone Beam Imaging Courses, a comprehensive educational platform designed to make advanced CBCT concepts clinically relevant, practical, and immediately applicable. His educational methodology is organized around the Six Pillars of Imaging:

1. Technology Setup

2. Image Acquisition

3. Data Correction and Optimization

4. Volume Navigation

5. Image Interpretation and Reporting

6. Advanced Clinical Applications

This framework teaches clinicians to master the entire imaging workflow, from selecting and configuring equipment to acquiring diagnostically useful scans, optimizing datasets, navigating complex anatomy, recognizing disease, producing defensible reports, and incorporating advanced applications such as artificial intelligence, three-dimensional printing, surgical guides, and dynamic navigation.

In addition to CBCT, Dr. Azevedo’s current educational and consulting work includes artificial intelligence, laser-assisted endodontics, digital workflow integration, and the development of more efficient systems for diagnosis, documentation, treatment planning, and patient communication.

Known for making complex subjects understandable without oversimplifying them, Dr. Azevedo combines scientific rigor with a direct, clinically focused teaching style. His mission is to empower clinicians to see what conventional imaging cannot reveal, make more confident decisions, and provide safer, more precise, and more efficient patient care.

Through education, innovation, and clinical application, Dr. Bruno Azevedo continues to advance the role of three-dimensional imaging in dentistry and redefine how clinicians use technology to diagnose, plan, and treat.