See more, treat more

See more, treat more with CBCT imaging

When patients leave your chair, do you wonder when – or if – they’ll be back? With estimates that most general dental practices have an average recall time of 11 months, a new patient retention rate of 40% and an average of $1 million in unscheduled treatment plans, you’re not alone.

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Dentist showing CBCT images to a patient

Even with the latest technologies and digital tools at their disposal, dentists rely on a single word to provide exceptional dental care and grow their practices: Yes. Getting patients to accept treatment has always been an uphill battle – especially with limited modes of communication.

CBCT imaging helps bridge the gap between patient confusion and patient education. Seeing dental issues in 3D while they’re still in the chair brings patients’ treatment needs into perspective. And, when it comes to complex procedures, doctors can walk patients through the process from start to finish.

In addition to better patient education, CBCT imaging also holds the power to enhance diagnostics and expand the scope of treatment. Seeing in 3D gives doctors the confidence they need to tackle endodontic, implant and TMJ treatment, so they can keep more patients in-house.

Axeos: powerful yet calming

Denstply Sirona Axeos CBCT imaging unit
Dentsply Sirona’s Axeos is a hybrid 2D/3D system with tailor-made 3D volume sizes (from 5 cm x 5.5 cm to 17 cm x 13 cm). It allows doctors to examine a precise area or
evaluate the complete dentition. Smart height adjustment automatically sets the unit to individual patient height based on stored settings, while an integrated bite block accessory cabinet has interior illumination with ambient light for a calming patient experience.

OP 3D: fast and flexible

DEXIS OP 3D CBCT imaging unit
The DEXIS ORTHOPANTOMOGRAPH OP 3D is a powerful diagnostic tool for 3D, panoramic and cephalometric imaging. It offers several features that enhance workflows, including QUICKcompose for fast image review automatically after the scan, and four 3D resolutions. Three predefined fields of view meet a range of applications, but users also can customize volume size to their needs. Only patient positioning needs to be set, which can be controlled intuitively via a laptop or PC.

Peer perspectives on benefits of CBCT technology

Eric Shelton, DDS

Eric Shelton, DDS

A graduate of the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, Dr. Shelton enjoys providing his patients with a variety of cutting-edge treatments, including implants, veneers, clear aligners and night guards.

Gary Williams, DMD

Gary Williams, DMD

Dr. Williams graduated from the University of Mississippi and maintains Williams Dental and Associates in Byram, MS, where he uses the latest advancements in digital imaging to educate and build strong patient relationships.

Imaging workflow

Dr. Shelton: When we see new patients who haven’t had a full-mouth series or pan in the last 5 years, we take bitewings and a pan, and it helps that the pan on the Axeos is better than any I’ve ever seen. It’s so clear that we can see incipient caries. I take a CBCT when doing root canal treatment if I have any concerns about tooth anatomy on the periapicals, as well as for every implant I place. It allows me to pick the ideal implant and eliminates concerns about the location of nerves, sinuses and ridge widths.
 
Dr. Williams: The DTX Studio software that accompanies the OP 3D is phenomenal. Not only can you acquire CBCT images straight from the software, but you can visualize all patient 2D/3D radiographs and clinical photos on one interface and display up to 12 images at once. It’s like an imaging storyboard that tells a tale about the patient’s current situation and future outcomes. This increases patient confidence and treatment acceptance.

Treatment opportunities

Dr. Shelton: When I researched CBCTs, I knew the technology would allow us to start offering implants, orthodontics and sleep medicine, and enhance endodontics and oral surgery. It not only helps me make better clinical decisions, it also makes me a better clinician by allowing me to see more information. Axeos motivates me to take more continuing education because I want to get better at what I’m doing and expand on those procedures.
 
Dr. Williams: When performing endo with CBCT, I can tell if a canal is going to play nicely, or if it’s a complex case that needs to be referred out. This saves time for the dentist and helps to quickly delegate treatment modalities to the appropriate practitioner. It’s much better than just using 2D imaging and scratching your head about lesions hiding in the same plane of view or between anatomical structures.

Predictability

Dr. Shelton: Without a doubt Axeos enhances procedure predictability. It makes root canals easier by knowing ahead of time if there are extra canals and where they’re located. You also can take measurements to help access narrow canals or orifices that are more apical. With the help of implant planning software and fabricating surgical guides, implants can be placed with amazing accuracy and precision. My final radiographs are almost always spot on with my pre-planned positions.
 
Dr. Williams: So many scenarios make me grateful to have 3D imaging. For example, when a patient has a severe buccal lesion on a second or third molar, it’s difficult to tell how far it ingresses with a 2D radiograph. However, with a CBCT axial view, you can easily see the extent of the lesion in relation to pulpal tissue. Now you can determine whether to restore the tooth operatively and can see critical anatomical structures for extractions, RCT therapy or implant placement. This makes radiographic diagnosing dependable and predictable.

Patient reaction

Dr. Shelton: Axeos has a “wow” factor for patients, and they’re amazed with the images. When I’m doing an implant case it allows me to easily explain the whole process. Patients are more at ease when they see this, which helps increase case acceptance.
 
Dr. Williams: If you try to tell a patient, “You need three implants, two crowns and SRP,” they’ll soon forget everything you said. But if you show them their CBCT while they’re in the chair and explain how and why something is happening, you’ll bring your point home and get increased case acceptance. That’s where the technology meets the patient, with the doctor as the intermediary.

Patterson, your CBCT partner

Patterson offers 3D extraoral imaging solutions from leading manufacturers, including Dentsply Sirona, DEXIS, Planmeca, NewTom and Acteon. Patterson’s digital imaging specialists can help you determine which solution is right for your practice and help you and your team get trained on the technology.
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This article was originally published in the fall 2022 issue of Advantage by Patterson Dental.

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How Dr. Gary Williams builds patient relationships