Product Profile: Using Technology to Enhance Your Dentistry and Revenue

Using Technology to Enhance Your Dentistry and Revenue

Optical scanning systems are becoming essential to dental offices for increasing impression accuracy and saving time. Doctors are adopting the technology at an increasing rate. According to projections by the Millennium Research Group, the global market for intra-oral scanners will reach $61 million by 2014. Not all scanners are created equal however.

The Underlying Technology
Understanding the technology behind available choices can make the decision easier. Some optical scanners use blue light emitting diode (LED) technology, which requires a powder or other contrasting medium to create a reflective surface for capturing the image. Other scanners use advanced laser technology, which measures the actual distance from tooth surfaces and does not require powder. The iTero digital impression system represents the latest advance in parallel confocal laser-based optical scanning.

The iTero system produces imagery in real time, enabling the doctor to see the model being built as scanning proceeds. Models can be sent electronically to the lab to produce restorations and orthodontic appliances. Electronic “impressions” make it easy for labs to download data directly to CAD/CAM production equipment, for restorations that do not require models. Dramatically Improved Ease of Use
For doctors, the iTero system improves accuracy by eliminating the problems associated with PVS expansion and contraction or poured models, such as bubbles, pulls, tears and distortion. Cleaner preparations and improved accuracy greatly reduce, or eliminate, having to reschedule patients for retakes. Aligners and restorations fit with minimal occlusal adjustment, no contamination from the patient and no die spacing.

The exclusive integration between iTero scanning and Invisalign technology greatly simplifies aligner treatment. The iTero system also supports integration with cone beam CT data for enhanced implant and orthodontic treatment planning. This enables development of surgical guides and sameday temporization with predictable results.

When Time is Money
Time savings are significant. Doctors have repeatedly reported that conventional impressions take 35 to 50 minutes from prep to packing the case for the lab. Digital impressions, with prep time and four minutes to scan both arches based on a quadrant impression, require 12 to 14 minutes – a savings of 23 to 33 minutes.

Doctors also report significant reductions in seating appointment chairtime with iTero. Highly accurate restorations from the laboratory can reduce the time spent in chairside adjustment during seating by up to 20 minutes per patient. Other time savings include tray selection, material dispensing, disinfection and impression gun cleanup. There is no model pouring of the opposing models or model trimming and no distortion from a triple tray. Packaging, writing lab scripts and shipping are also eliminated because prescriptions are sent electronically with the digital impression.

Translated into clinical costs, the savings add up quickly. Based on reports from doctors who perform restoration work with a revenue goal of $500 per hour and an average of 500 such cases annually, a time savings of 28 to 38 minutes per case increases production from $116,000 to $158,000 per year. Not only do iTero digital impressions reduce per-case costs, the time savings enable doctors to accept more cases.

It’s no wonder that doctors are quickly embracing the benefits of iTero scanning systems. Reduced costs, increased accuracy and time savings all add up to a highly efficient, leading-edge practice.

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Sally Gross, Member Services Specialist
Phone: +1-480-445-9710
Email: sally@farranmedia.com
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