Planmeca PROMAX 3D

 

Digital Imaging

As your dental healthcare providers, we carefully choose which radiographs to make and when they are made. We follow specific guidelines that determine how often these radiographs should be made. Generally speaking, routine radiographs are made on our patients once a year.   Radiographs allow us to see the things we cannot visualize during the clinical exam. The radiographic images enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth and under existing restorations, to assess bone levels around the teeth, and to discover early infection, or abscesses, within the bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, and assess damage when trauma occurs.  If there has been a change in your home care (less meticulous) or eating habits (more sugar), we want to see how your teeth have been affected and intervene.

As many of our patients already know, we utilize digital imaging technology for the radiological exam.   Exposure times for traditional (film) dental radiographs were minimal.  With intra-oral sensors, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs which results in up to 1/10th of the radiation exposure to you.  Digital imaging helps us retrieve valuable diagnostic information. By viewing the images on a computer monitor, the technology allows us to enlarge and focus on a specific area.

The latest tool in our arsenal of digital imaging is the Planmeca ProMax 3D–a cone beam CT (CBCT) imaging device utilizing the unique Planmeca Ultra Low Dose™ imaging protocol, enabling CBCT imaging with an even lower effective patient dose than standard 2D panoramic imaging. This pioneering imaging protocol is based on intelligent 3D algorithms developed by Planmeca and offers a vast amount of detailed anatomical information at a very low patient dose.  The images eliminate the “guesswork” from two-dimensional radiographs, allowing us to easily diagnose issues with problem teeth as well as plan procedures like dental implants with unparalleled precision.

For those patients who experience difficulty with intra-oral sensors, the Planmeca ProMax 3D offers a state-of-the-art alternative.  In addition to panoramic and CBCT views, the ProMax 3D offers extra-oral bitewing radiographs–no more sensors placed into the mouth.  This has been been a wonderful addition to our practice.  For patients with a strong gag reflex or small mouths, this device allows for comfortable radiographs without compromising detail.  The best part is the Planmeca ProMax 3D produces these amazing images with the lowest possible exposure for you, the patient.

Thank you for reading our blog.  Until next time…

Dr. Jill and Dr. Chad