For those of you who do humanitarian and volunteer trips like I do, the NOMAD is indispensable. Mission trips are a passion of mine and the NOMAD’s portability has played a crucial role in those projects.
As general dentists, our days in the office can get pretty hectic. From standard restorations to endodontics, implants, and the occasional emergency, I often find myself hustling from one operatory to another. It can be a challenge to juggle it all. That’s why I’m always looking for ways to streamline my daily activities. If I can make life easier, faster, and more comfortable for my patient, I’m all for it. One product that has really helped is the KaVo™ NOMAD
Pro 2™ portable X-ray.
To be fair, my wall-mounted unit was working just fine. The images are crisp and clear. But ask any patient, and they’ll tell you it’s not their favorite thing to sit in a dental chair with their mouths contorted while my hygienists run in and out of the room, pushing a button to capture their X-rays. It’s time consuming and uncomfortable. Not to mention the number of times we had to redo the X-rays because the camera drifted or the patient was unable to remain still.
So, when I heard about handheld X-ray devices, I was intrigued. And skeptical. I wasn’t sure if the images would be as detailed as the ones I was getting from my wall unit, or if it would be safe for my patients and staff. Most of all, I wasn’t going to invest in another piece of equipment unless I was confident that it would provide a good return.
As for the image quality, NOMAD is identical to the radiographs I get using my wall-mounted unit. I have noticed no difference whatsoever. It’s one of those products that delivers on all its claims without any compromise.
The NOMAD Pro 2 laid all those concerns to rest and exceeded my expectations.
Let’s first talk cost. When I was expanding my office and adding two operatories, I compared the price of wall-mounted units to the NOMAD Pro 2. Because the NOMAD is a handheld device that can be shared between two or three operatories, it was a no-brainer.
As for safety, I did my research and found that no other manufacturer has performed as many tests on handheld X-ray units as KaVo Kerr. I learned that the internal shielding and beam limiting ensures that the intended X-ray is properly collimated to hit the target and nothing else. The NOMAD Pro 2 also has a leaded acrylic backscatter shield that creates a safety zone for the operator and it protects from radiation. That gave me peace of mind. Also, from my personal experience, KaVo Kerr has excellent customer service so I felt comfortable giving NOMAD a try.
It wasn’t until after I started using NOMAD that I realized the true benefits it would offer my patients and practice. I was amazed at how fast and easy it was to use. From the routine to the most challenging cases, NOMAD Pro 2 makes every procedure go so much more smoothly. The versatility is amazing. Now my staff can stay chairside with the patient, which has really sped up the process of taking X-rays. Further, I’ve noticed my patients are more relaxed and comfortable. For a dental practice, that’s priceless!
About the Author: Dr. Brian Harris is a leading expert in adhesive dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, and creating the ultimate patient experience. He is a 2005 graduate of the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry and a practicing dentist in Phoenix, Arizona, where he owns and operates three Harris Dental locations. Dr. Harris is the creator of the Smile Virtual Consult, which allows doctors to attract and treat more cosmetic cases in their practice, and is a recognized Key Opinion Leader in the dental industry, having presented to audiences large and small more than 200 times and in five different countries.