Across the country, more and more dentists are embracing dental cone beam (CBCT) technology in their practices, oftentimes upgrading a panoramic X-ray machine to CBCT. The 3D imaging capability of a CBCT machine allows for greater in-office clinical capabilities as well as more rapid treatment planning and case acceptance. If your practice is looking to attract new patients and retain your current patients, an investment in advanced imaging technology can help you accomplish your growth goals.
With greater demand, many leading dental imaging manufacturers have designed state-of-the-art CBCT imaging systems. With so many high-quality, reputable CBCT options available in the market, how do dental professionals find the best CBCT for their practice?
Seek referrals from other dentists, read product reviews, and evaluate both manufacturers and dealers. Your investment in CBCT is significant to your practice, so you need to be confident you’ve made the best choice.
Today, we’re sharing the steps you will want to walk through in order to find the right dental CBCT system for your practice.
Step 1: Select Your Field of View (FOV)
When you call a dental equipment sales rep, one of the first questions they’ll ask you is “What procedures are you performing in your practice?” The answer to this question will immediately filter your options, based on the clinical applications each field of view offers.
● Regardless of manufacturer, dental cone beam systems are typically categorized by three FOV groups: small, medium, and large. Most medium and large FOV cone beam dental systems can often collimate down to achieve smaller FOV sizes if needed. Each manufacturer sets their own field of view sizes, so they can differ greatly by brand and/or model.
● Small FOV dental cone beam systems typically capture a 5 x 5 cm field of view or similar. A small FOV CBCT is the right choice for you if you only need to view one or two teeth at a time and is best suited for endodontics and single implant treatments.
● A medium FOV CBCT, often the best choice for many general dentists and specialists due to its versatility, is typically used to capture any area from 5x5cm up to both arches, which usually ranges from 6-11 cm in height and up to 14 cm in width.
The largest FOVs start around 13-15 cm and can go as large as 17-23 cm. A large FOV CBCT is perfect for multi-specialty practices that offer a wide range of treatment options, from endodontics to orthognathic surgery, due to the system’s ability to collimate down to more localized anatomy.
Step 2: Determine Configuration, System & Feature Requirements
Next, your sales rep will request more information on your practice configuration. This will similarly help them filter your best options, tailored to your current space available, network and software requirements, and local regulations.
For example, if you’re replacing a current Sirona panoramic for CBCT, it may make sense to stay with the same manufacturer for consistency among your software or network. Plus, if you are replacing an existing X-ray machine, typically a cone beam unit from the same brand will fit into the same available space. During this process, always ensure you accommodate state regulatory requirements.
For 3D volumes, the cone beam system typically includes its own software that allows for a scan to be shared throughout the office, but the images are typically too large to be saved and shared within traditional 2D imaging or practice management software. Since 3D imaging software is usually a stand-alone program that can integrate with 2D imaging and practice management solutions from multiple brands, choosing a CBCT from another manufacturer than your existing equipment is still a viable route if that’s best for your practice.
Finally, list out the features that are most critical to your practice. Often, the features are what distinguish one manufacturer and product from another. In general, CBCT imaging systems are relatively consistent with regard to image quality. Other features, such as patient motion limitation, extraoral bitewings, and other premium technologies often separate entry level systems from higher-end models.
Step 3: Evaluate Brands
Now that you have a better understanding of the field of view sizes, space requirements and software compatibility considerations for a CBCT machine for your dental practice, your sales rep will likely walk you through the available brands which offer models with your requirements. Evaluating each brand will come down to criteria such as features, reputation, and cost. Each CBCT brand has distinguishing features which set them apart from its competitors. Here is a short list of leading brands in CBCT based on their solid mix of desirable features as well as customer service and dependability.
● Planmeca
● Sirona
● Carestream
● i-CAT
● KaVo/DEXIS
● Vatech
Step 4: Find the Right Dealer
You’re one step closer to offering in-house dental CBCT imaging. One final consideration is where you will purchase your machine, and what price you can get it for. Choosing the right dealer will impact the price, quality, warranty, and service of your machine.
Renew Digital leads the market in certified pre-owned dental imaging equipment. They can save their customers up to 50% off new list prices as well as match them with the features that will drive the best value from the investment, so their customers can start seeing returns as quickly as possible.
Plus, every CBCT purchase comes with a comprehensive warranty, five-star customer service, and help desk support. And, if you’re upgrading your current equipment, they can also speak to you about trading in your current digital imaging equipment towards your purchase. Give them a call today at (888) 246-5611 or fill out an online form to connect with a sales rep.
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