We used to live in a one-size-fits-all, take-it-or-leave-it world when it came to radiography. Storage, cost, and film distribution were limiting factors with traditional film x-rays, as was the inability to reduce radiation dose. When intraoral digital radiography was introduced in the late 1980s, one major perk was a massive reduction in radiation exposure—as much as 90% lower in some cases. But these early CCD (charge-coupled device) sensors relied heavily on software to make the images readable and worth any diagnostic value.
As intraoral sensors began to evolve, the ability to fit CMOS technology into one small chip made digital radiography simpler and allowed for easier mobility between operatories. This technology also required less power and began to produce images with better quality than film x-rays.
Give Your Images a Personal Touch
Today, we’ve firmly entered an age of customization where innovative tools like Dentsply Sirona’s Schick 33 intraoral sensor allow clinicians to alter sensor settings and image quality based on procedures and specific diagnostic needs. And after the images are taken, Sidexis 4 image processing software makes it possible to enhance those images and visualize 2D, 3D, and intraoral images in tandem for better diagnostics, treatment, and patient communication.
Schick 33 offers a clinical-specific mapping feature that houses presets for general dentistry, endodontics, periodontics, or restorative dentistry. In addition to these presets, the dental team can create “me-sets” based on personal needs that can be easily saved and shared.
Rooted in Dentsply Sirona’s CMOS-APS imaging technology, Schick 33 offers a theoretical resolution of 33 lines per millimeter, the highest in the industry. The resulting image sharpness is robust and can be easily altered depending on a clinician’s need to focus on apical or coronal details.
Streamlined Visualization
In recent years, Dentsply Sirona has focused on bringing its imaging technology products onto a single platform. The Sidexis 4 software streamlines clinicians’ workflows by offering enhanced visualization options for implantology, sleep apnea, TMD treatment, and endodontics.
Most importantly, Sidexis 4 guarantees that every image captured in the practice can be visualized on the same screen. This includes a timeline feature that provides an overview of a patient’s entire history and a compare function that simultaneously evaluates several images, such as a 3D scan and an intraoral image.
