3D CBCT imaging can play an essential role in many procedures that often need specialty treatment outside my office. That is why I recently invested in an i-CAT™ FLX V8 3D imaging system.
For precise diagnosis, 3D offers me a view of anatomical landmarks such as nerves, sinuses, and bone. However, not all 3D systems are the same. I invested in i-CAT when I became frustrated after sending patients to an imaging center that gave inconsistent results.
Additionally, not having an in-house scanner delayed my patients’ treatment. Sometimes an infection not visible on a 2D X-ray was left untreated for longer than necessary. With my fast and comprehensive diagnostics, I can now render emergency treatment right away. Even with non-emergency care, after patients view the clear images on 55-inch monitors, they understand and accept my recommendations more readily, and in some cases we can begin treatment the same day.
I spoke with colleagues and visited other offices to see their units in action. I chose the i-CAT FLX V8 for these reasons:
- The system can capture the field of view for the area that I need right now – two full arches and the sinuses.
- Image quality is excellent and consistent.
- It is upgradeable. I can use it for procedures such as dental implants, bone grafting, sinus grafts, extractions, and root canals– especially for molars. In the future, I would like to expand my practice services to include sleep disorders, airway obstruction, and orthodontics. When I am ready, I can expand the unit’s capabilities to a larger FOV with just a half-day tech visit.
- The unit includes a traditional panoramic X-ray option, so I could completely replace my older 2D pan.
- The scanner has an open software platform, so I export files into my implant planning software. That has made transitioning easier – I can still use my software until I transition.
over to Tx STUDIO™ software. - This unit accommodates patients of all shapes and sizes. I had encountered issues with my taller or larger patients in my previous standing panoramic. The V8 also helps with people who cannot move their shoulders well and is wide enough for wheelchair patients.
- It offers many options for reducing radiation exposure – the QuickScan+ setting for a 3D scan is comparable to a 2D panoramic X-ray.
- Affordability – the system was around $90,000, and has very flexible payment options.
- The two-day training was intense yet very comprehensive; my staff and I were easily brought up-to-speed.
- i-CAT systems are made in the USA, in Hatfield, Pennsylvania. This was important to me.
Having an i-CAT can distinguish a practice from the competition. My patients are as amazed as I am about the details they learn about their teeth. The V8 gives us confidence in the progression and outcome of treatment.
Originally published in Sidekick Magazine
About the Author: Itzhak Eisinger has a private practice in Forest Hills, Queens, New York. He graduated from New York University College of Dentistry in 1987 and then completed a two-year course at NYU in implantology surgical and prosthetic treatment. He also successfully completed a practical course on sinus grafting presented by Dr. Stuart Orton-Jones from the Harpole Centre, England. He became a fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists in 2006 and has been a faculty member of New York University College of Dentistry since 2006.