Product Evaluation

Dr. Viraj Gadkar states point-blank what advanced imaging means to his implant work. “We cannot perform implant surgery without advanced 3D diagnostic imaging,” he said. So, when he opened a second general practice with a focus on implant surgery, he went looking for the same CBCT he already relied on at his first location: the PreXion Excelsior.

The Excelsior delivers clear, detailed images at low radiation exposure, supporting diagnostics and digital treatment planning across diverse clinical needs. It comes in 2 configurations: the MID, with medium fields of view from 5×5 cm to 16×9 cm, and the MAX, which extends the range from 16×15 cm to 16×21 cm for larger-volume capture.

“This machine has been integral for treatment planning and diagnosing prior to implant surgeries,” Dr. Gadkar said, helping him achieve success with “all of our dental implants, including immediate implants, as well as molar endodontics.”

Image Clarity, Speed, and Range

The Excelsior scans at an isotropic voxel resolution of 75 to 400 μm and features two 3D algorithms for enhancing workflow efficiency and diagnostic accuracy: the Patient Motion Correction (PMC), which automatically corrects imperfections caused by micromovement during scans, and Metal Artifact Reduction (MAR) for reprocessing an existing scan rather than requiring a new exposure.

“It’s incredibly easy to take images with this machine,” Dr. Hanyi Leo Yu said. “I don’t believe it could be any more user-friendly.” Dr. Suhail Mati also felt it was “easy to learn and reliable,” noting that the system delivers “sharp images without metal distortion,” particularly in adjacent implant cases.

“The scans are clear enough to be genuinely useful for diagnosis and treatment planning,” Dr. Trey Miller said. “I also appreciate the flexibility of the field-of-view options because I can use a focused scan when appropriate or a larger scan when I need a broader view of anatomy.”

Dr. Richard Witty agreed, observing that the system offers a “wide range of use” and produces high-quality images whether he’s capturing a small, medium, or large area. “The field of view is large,”  Dr. Emily Sewell noted, appreciating that the system fulfilled her need “to get a large enough image for a virtual ceph.”

Diagnostics & Treatment Planning Software

The Excelsior is powered by PreXion’s proprietary software, which allows dentists to annotate 2D images; create 3D reports with custom layouts; perform cephalometric tracing either manually or with AI-assisted landmark detection; and position implant fixtures from an extensive library of systems.

It can also segment the teeth, mandible, airways, and sinuses with corresponding volume measurements, convert DICOM files to STL files for CAD/CAM or 3D printing, and generate an internal airway view based on a clinician-defined navigation path.

“It has become a very useful part of my workflow for implant planning, endodontic assessment, pathology evaluation, and comprehensive restorative cases,” Dr. Miller said. For example, during implant and overdenture treatment planning, he explained how “the CBCT helped evaluate bone volume, implant positioning, proximity to vital anatomy, and restorative space before finalizing the plan.”

He added, “It has also been helpful in endodontic and restorative cases where 2D imaging did not fully explain a patient’s symptoms. Being able to evaluate the area in 3D helped clarify the diagnosis and guide the next step in treatment.”

Similarly, Dr. Yu shared, “Many endodontic cases are made easier just by the option of having a 3D view during challenging clinical scenarios.”

While a couple of evaluators mentioned that they would like to see continued refinements to the implant treatment planning software, Dr. Mati found it useful for “looking at complex cases with bone loss around dental implants.” For Dr. Witty, it was helpful “to treatment plan implants and hard-tissue reconstruction,” and he noted, “I can complete comprehensive evaluations confidently.”

Assisting Clinicians, Informing Patients

The Excelsior’s patient management system is designed for secure, networked communication of patient data across multiple operatories, making it easy for dentists to view scans chairside and explain the proposed treatment to patients.

PreXion backs the system with hands-on training and ongoing customer support. “It has helped me make better-informed clinical decisions and explain findings to patients in a way that is much easier for them to understand,” Dr. Miller said.

“The people who I spoke with to get this product set up were very down to earth and wonderful to work with,” Dr. Yu recalled. “So far, the customer support is quite good, as well.” Dr. Mati echoed this sentiment, simply describing “amazing customer support.”

Overall Satisfaction

“I’m happy with the image quality, diverse applications, and customer service,” Dr. Witty said, and Dr. Miller added, “It has become an important part of how I diagnose, treatment plan, communicate with patients, and coordinate care. Overall, it offers a good balance of clinical capability, support, warranty coverage, and value.”