Dental radiographs are an essential part of your overall dental health evaluation. They are especially effective for detecting tooth decay and gum disease by assessing bone levels around teeth and dental implants. Digital dental X-rays offer several advantages over traditional film X-rays, including instant image viewing, enhanced resolution and detail, and reduced radiation exposure. Your dental X-rays are downloaded onto a computer, allowing us to use advanced software to enhance the images for improved diagnosis and treatment planning.

At Misch Implant & Aesthetic Dentistry, we utilize the award-winning DEXIS imaging system. DEXIS uses Advanced CleanCapture technology to enhance detail and produce high-resolution images. The system processes images with ClearVu™, resulting in clear, highly detailed radiographs.

We also use a handheld X-ray machine called the NOMAD Pro 2, which gives our team greater flexibility and easier positioning of the X-ray unit to capture better images. It also allows our staff to remain in the room with the patient, helping to keep them calm and properly positioned for a more positive and comfortable experience.

One of the most significant advances in implant dentistry over the past 20 years has been the ability to obtain three-dimensional radiographs of the jawbone in-office to assess anatomy and bone volume for implant placement. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is a variation of traditional CT scan systems. By using advanced computer technology and software, CBCT requires significantly less radiation to produce 3D images compared to the CT scan units used in medicine.

We have recently acquired the next generation of cone beam CT scanners: the Carestream 9600. This unit has received the Cellerant “Best of Class” award in dental technology. It utilizes artificial intelligence to deliver more accurate scans on the first attempt. Its high-resolution imaging surpasses that of other units on the market, enhancing our diagnostic capabilities and improving surgical precision.

This new scanner also features an innovative Face Scan function that generates realistic 3D facial images, which are superimposed over the underlying facial bones. This provides additional diagnostic information to help us plan your case for the best possible outcome. The scanner includes a low-dose mode to further minimize radiation exposure compared to other CT scanners.

The virtual dental implant surgery feature has also been optimized, enabling our board-certified surgeons to digitally plan your bone graft or dental implant procedure in advance. Using your CT scan images, we can select the most effective approach and materials for your specific case. It’s like rehearsing your surgery before the real one—because champions win by preparing for success.

Photogrammetry is a new technique used in implant dentistry to capture images and create highly accurate 3D models of the implant positions. This technique is more precise than traditional impressions. It involves attaching photogrammetry-coded abutments to implants and capturing multiple images from different angles using a specialized camera. Using software the images are stitched together to create a 3D representation. 

Once the photogrammetry scan is complete, a digital file extension (STL or XML file) is created that contains all the interrelated information on implant geometries and interfaces. This data can then be uploaded to computer-aided design software to allow for digital alignment pairing and designing of the prosthesis. After the prosthesis is designed, an STL file can be sent to a 3D printer. The prosthesis can then be 3D printed at our office and delivered to the patient the same day. 

The benefits of photogrammetry are numerous. This is a much better experience for the patient compared to using impression material and trays in the mouth. This technique offers increased accuracy which is crucial for fabricating precise implant restorations. In full-arch implant dentistry, obtaining an accurate representation of the implant positions is imperative to the fit and long-term success of the prosthesis. It can also reduce the number of visits required for full-arch implant prostheses. The high precision of photogrammetry contributes to more predictable and successful restorative outcomes.