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Gendex celebrates the Dentaltown “Best Panoramic X-ray” GXDP-300 and GXDP-700 at Chicago MidWinter meeting, and introduces the new Invivo 5.3 to its 3D product line. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hatfield, PA (February 19, 2014) - Gendex, a leader in dental imaging, will showcase its full line of digital imaging solutions at the Chicago Dental Society Midwinter Meeting from February 20 to February 22, 2014.

At the show, Gendex will celebrate the recent Dentaltown “Best Panoramic X-ray” Townie Choice Award received for its GXDP-300 digital panoramic and GXDP-700 panoramic, cephalometric, and Cone Beam 3D systems. The positive response from dental practitioners and industry experts confirms Gendex’s place as a leader in extraoral imaging innovation.

Gendex will also introduce Invivo 5.3, a new edition of the award-winning 3D imaging software. Current Gendex 3D owners and visitors wanting to learn more about 3D will be able to demo Invivo 5.3. With the integration of new clinical tools to enhance the implant treatment planning process, this latest version elevates the potential of Gendex Cone Beam imaging solutions and ultimately increases the predictability of clinical outcomes.

Invivo 5.3 new restoration design module

Furthermore, the new software allows users to combine Cone Beam 3D data with digital impressions taken with an intraoral camera or CAD/CAM system. The pairing of patient anatomy datasets allows practitioners to identify a treatment plan that meets both functional and aesthetic requirements. 

The GXDP-300, GXDP-700, Invivo 5.3 along with the entire family of Gendex products including digital intraoral sensors and x-ray solutions, will be showcased at the Chicago Midwinter show in Booth #1000.

About Gendex

Gendex, known for its innovative and dependable products, offers a wide variety of comprehensive digital imaging solutions for both general dentists and specialists. The company’s strong history in continuing innovation, along with a deep dedication to deliver products that exceed the needs of dental professionals, have earned Gendex recognition as a global leader. Learn more about the full line of Gendex products at www.gendex.com.

Some people say that position is everything in life — and for capturing quality panoramic images, that is truly the case! Excellent image quality results from careful attention to positioning, and special features on the GXDP-300™ help clinicians to capture panoramics more easily and efficiently.

In just 5 minutes, the video below will show you how to take optimal panoramic x-ray images:

The process starts by setting up the acquisition within your imaging software. Then, ready the unit by positioning the chin rest and bite guide and fully opening the head supports. After pressing the reset button to position the rotating unit, select the projection and patient size on the touchscreen.

Now, for patient positioning. Before settling the patient into place, tell them to remove any glasses, false teeth, jewelry, hair clips, or pins, and then place the protective apron. Press the up and down buttons on the unit to adjust the height of the chin rest so it is slightly higher than the patient’s chin. Ask the patient to step into the unit and grab the handgrips. After the patient places their chin on the chin rest, ask them to position their upper and lower anterior teeth into the groove on the bite guide.

Laser technology is responsible for the next step in positioning. After asking the patient to close their eyes, press the laser button to initiate the laser alignment lights. For mid-saggital placement, verify that the patient’s head is not tilted or turned to one side. For standard panoramic horizontal placement, use the up and down buttons to bring the patient’s Frankfort plane parallel to the laser. For bitewing projection, horizontal placement, use the up and down buttons to bring the patient’s occlusal plane parallel to the laser. Laser lights can be raised or lowered before making adjustments to the Frankfort or occlusal planes. For standard panoramic placement, adjust the chin rest, posteriorly or anteriorly so the cuspids coincide with the laser. For bitewing projection placement, adjust the chin rest to the bitewing marker.

After positioning the laser, carefully push the unit’s head support towards the patient, and rotate the head-support knob clockwise to close the temple supports for a gentle, yet firm grip on the patient’s head. While the patient holds the handgrips firmly, support the patient’s head position by putting your hand on the back of their head, and ask the patient to step forward slightly. Check that the patient is still in the correct position. Ask the patient to press their lips together and to press their tongue against the roof of the mouth.

Tip: Looking at a fixed point in the mirror will help the patient to remain still.

During exposure, the unit will rotate around the patient’s head until finished. Exposure should take about 12 seconds for an adult panoramic and 6 seconds for a bitewing. During exposure, move at least seven feet away from the unit, to a place where you are still able to see and hear the patient.

Finally, release the head support, and help the patient out of the unit.

With the GXDP-300, the EasyPosition™ system and instructive alignment guides makes positioning patients of all sizes a smooth and simple process. The touchscreen control panel makes panoramic x-ray capture as easy as 1-2-3:

1. Select the imaging projection
2. Choose the patient size
3. Take the scan

Proprietary FOX™ technology facilitates well-defined, high-quality images with consistent magnification and image uniformity. Panoramic images can provide accurate views of patient anatomy for better diagnostics and a more streamlined workflow and capture process. The GXDP-300 blends performance and simplicity — and puts you in a better position to achieve quality panoramic imaging to provide the best treatment planning for your patients.

For more info on the Gendex GXDP-300, visit the product page. 

Several offices get stuck in the process of upgrading to digital radiography. Here are 3 initial steps you can take: 

1. Evaluate your practice's clinical needs
2. Learn about your options
3. Ask your peers or industry experts

1. Evaluate Your Practice's Clinical Needs

The first step in this process is to evaluate your practice imaging needs. Modern digital panorex are capable of offering not only a standard panoramic x-ray view, but also to acquire optimal pediatric panoramic x-rays, extraoral bitewing views, cephalometric projections, and even Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans, also known as dental 3D scans. How do you choose among all these options?

It is important to focus on your practice needs. Specifically, you want to identify the procedures you are performing today and anticipate the treatments your practice will likely offer in the near future. Do you see your practice on a path to growth? Are you offering more and more specialized treatments like implant placements, endodontic treatments, and orthodontics? The answers to these questions can help you make a more informed decision on the dental imaging capabilities that your next digital panorex should be able to provide. 

2. Learn About Your Options

There are several digital panoramic options in the market, but which one is right for you and your practice?

Once you have a clear understanding of your existing and future clinical needs, the next step is to explore available machines to meet those needs. One caveat is understanding your position with respect to 3D imaging, or the potential to upgrade to 3D in the future. In fact, while your office might not be in a position to benefit from 3D imaging today, you may want to choose a digital panorex that can be easily and effectively upgraded to Cone Beam 3D at a later date.

If you have relied on a Gendex GX-Pan for years, and would like to count on Gendex for your next digital panorex, you'll be comforted by the fact that Gendex is able to offer a comprehensive platform of digital panoramic solutions. Starting with the Gendex GXDP-300 digital panoramic system, to the Gendex GXDP-700 Series - a modular platform able to meet your Panoramic, Cephalometric and Cone Beam 3D imaging needs. Here is a comparative snapshot of the Gendex extraoral product line:

GXDP-700 Digital Pan, also upgradable w/ Ceph and 3D (left); GXDP-300 Digital Pan (right)

Trying to anticipate your practice's future needs is a smart thing to do, but when you add extra imaging capabilities to your panoramic system, your initial investment also goes up. However, going with the cheapest panorex for sale or the panoramic x-ray on promotion at the moment might not be the right choice for your practice if it is not upgradeable to meet your growing needs. Therefore it is critical to understand the real cost of a digital panorex, and the price you can afford. Here are Simple Return On Investment (ROI) Calcutators you can use to better understand the economics of your investment.

3. Ask Your Peers or Industry Experts

If you are trying to determine the best options to upgrade your GX-Pan panorex, you are not the only one. Several offices have already upgraded to digital technology or are in the process of doing so. Consulting with peers will allow you to gather helpful insights and learn how other professionals have succesfully gone digital.   

If you are pondering whether to invest in a panoramic x-ray machine, or which panorex is the best option for you and your office, the following video might provide the answer.

For Dr. Annie Sohn— a general practitioner in Seattle, WA—the true inspiration behind her investment in the Gendex GXDP-300 panoramic radiographic unit was ultimately the ability to provide a better and more comprehensive service to her patients. At the core of her decision-making process was the realization that the ability to have valuable diagnostic information from panoramic x-ray images would allow her to determine the best in-office treatment plan for her patients or, in more complex cases, to be able to refer the patient appropriately.

Dr. Sohn's journey in digital panoramic imaging started by reading a post on the Dentaltown forum, "I would like to extract teeth" (requires a user log in). The string of comments, cases, and experiences from orther dental practitioners inspired Dr. Sohn to explore the possibility of expanding the imaging capabilities of her practice with the addion of a digital panoramic x-ray machine. After consulting with peers, visiting trade shows, and a very thorough selection process, the doctor finally come to the final selection: the Gendex GXDP-300 Panoramic.

Dr. Sohn was thrilled to be able to accomodate the new unit in her cozy office, and more importantly, to see how her new panoramic x-ray machine has become an asset to the entire team. 

When we stopped by Dr. Sohn's dental office with the Experience Gendex mobile showroom, the Gendex GXDP-300 unit was already installed and in use for 5 months. Dr. Sohn shared her experience with us, and gave one last bit of advice to other dentists that are considering the Gendex GXDP-300 digital pan: "If you don't have one, you should definitely get one".

For more info on the Gendex GXDP-300, visit the product page. 

If you are interested in discussing your practice digital imaging needs and learning more about how the Gendex GXDP-300 can benefit you and your patients, contact a Gendex sales representative by clicking on the banner below. We will reach out to you as soon as possible.

The survey cites that 73% of respondents consider themselves as “researchers,” checking out hands-on demos and studies to back up their instincts. It seems that most dentists are planners at heart. The survey notes that “just 7% admitted to being impulse shoppers who see something and want to go for it.” Whatever their decision-making style, the survey points out that technology is definitely foremost on practitioners’ minds.

One of the most sought-after types of technology is digital radiography. Of the 15 categories of technologies included in the survey, digital x-ray system/digital sensor ranked in the top four most commonly owned, by 76 percent of the participant dentists.  These top technologies have steadily increased in popularity in recent years. Some respondents even applauded digital x-ray as the item that has given their practice the biggest boost, with intraoral cameras coming in second.

Dentists who decide on GXS-700™ sensors bring a legacy of sensor research and development to their practice—clear, high resolution images, rounded corners and two sizes for comfort for children and adults, and high speed USB connectivity. Dentists’ digital wish lists also extend to CBCT systems—and the GXCB-500™ and the new GXDP-700™ are two excellent choices for diagnosis and treatment planning of caries, root investigation, orthodontics, implants, surgical procedures, and patient education. Click here to see the newest digital pan/3D/ceph in action!

The survey indicates that there is always room for growth in terms of adding more clinical technology to the practice. It also shows that offices are getting more active with popular outlets such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to help promote and grow the practice. We hope you “Like” our Facebook page and check in with our blogs to keep up with all of our exciting developments. Team Gendex is always available to help you understand and implement digital radiography in your practice—helping you to keep up with and exceed digital radiography expectations.

 

Easy does it, easy peasy, easy-to-use…for dental imaging products, “easy” means completing a task with the least amount of effort.  And when it comes to touchscreen development, Gendex worked tirelessly on the screens for the GXDP-300 and GXDP-700, the dental digital imaging products. The idea was to make them “intuitive.” I guess you could say that the end goal was to have a screen that takes the least amount of effort to take the image and also saves brain power. 

So, what goes into making these screens intuitive? State-of-the-art electronics and VOC—Voice of the Customer. Not leaving it solely in the hands of knowledgeable engineers, the development team sought design advice from clinicians, the folks that will actually use the systems in the dental practice on a daily basis. 

The team presented various screens to these practitioners, and asked them to demonstrate how they would “take a pan or 3D scan” without giving any hints as to how the screen actually works. In this way, they could tell if the icons and the movement through the different panels really make sense. It’s a process of observing users, making changes, observing users again, making changes again…until the optimal design is achieved. 

As you can see, this VOC process is not quick or easy (no pun intended). It takes time and effort. But in the long-run, Gendex ended up with a graphic user interface for each system, fondly called “GUI” (gooey), that is just another way the company keeps dental teams easily moving through their workdays.

Above is a picture of one of the GUI screens for the GXDP-700, and here’s a link to show the GXDP-300’s GUI in action. Be sure to check out all the videos on the Gendex YouTube Channel!