Blog

By Rachel Mahoney, DMD

In April 2013, all of my dreams came true — I opened Mahoney Family Dentistry and gave birth to my son, Keegan, just weeks apart. Caring for a newborn baby and nurturing a new practice both take patience, attention to detail, and a great support group. The caring and knowledgeable representatives from Gendex and Burkhart offered their expertise on every aspect of the practice, especially on my imaging needs. As a result, the GXDP-700™ series digital pan and 3D combination unit and GXS-700 digital sensors have become two of the most important assets for my new practice.

During my career, I have worked in many aspects of dentistry — starting as a dental assistant in my father’s pediatric practice in 1990, then studying to become a hygienist, continuing on to dental school at Boston University School of Dental Medicine, and finally completing a GPR residency at the University of Nevada School Of Medicine in Las Vegas. In 2008, I moved to Edmonds, Washington and worked in different dental practices with various levels of technology.

By the time I started my own practice, I had worked in the dental field for 20 years and had experience with a variety of software and x-ray equipment. So, I was very selective and knew exactly what I did and did not want. Burkhart representatives Jim Connor and Tami Lennox accompanied me at the Pacific Northwest Dental Convention to see my options. For imaging products, we visited multiple companies’ booths and kept returning to Gendex. For implant procedures, I wanted a user-friendly in-office CBCT that produced great images. After stopping by the Gendex booth, and seeing the excellent image quality and price of the GXDP-700, the decision was simple. As part of my imaging package, I also got both sizes of GXS-700 digital sensors.

From the time of the training, I knew that I had made the right choice. I am so pleased with the clarity of the images, and how simply I can move between 2D and 3D modes. During training, I had a cone beam and bitewings done on me because I was due for a checkup. The bitewing was so crystal clear that I found a cavity that I had suspected but that was missed with a different brand of digital imaging a year before.

3D imaging is important to different procedures in my practice. When planning implant cases, I need the most accurate and detailed information available. And 3D can help me to pinpoint precise nerve location for third molar wisdom tooth extraction cases. I can control the resolution for lower radiation exposure and still get very fine detail even at the low resolution setting. My goal is to start using guides on every case, and CBCT is an important part of that process. This will remove even more guesswork and allow me to keep more advanced cases in-house.

Another interesting feature helped out with a patient who had an extremely bad gag reflex. With the extraoral bitewing feature, we were able to get great quality images. The patient was so impressed and said that he didn’t even know a dentist could cater to his special needs.

The GXS-700 sensors have also proven to be very valuable. Almost all of our new patients get a full mouth series. During our training, my team quickly learned how to properly position the sensor to get the appropriate views. The sensors are comfortable, and we use the smaller size for children, or adults with a bad gag reflex. Patients appreciate that they get less radiation exposure with digital x-rays, and since I was an assistant cleaning the processor at the beginning of my career, I appreciate not having to waste space with a darkroom or use harsh developing chemicals.

The Gendex trainer Mary Johnson came from Portland, Oregon to get us up to speed with the VixWin Platinum and Anatomage software. I was relieved that both are easy to navigate. I love and want technology, but am not super tech savvy, so the fact that it is so user-friendly is very important. The touchscreen on the GXDP-700 makes it so simple, my assistants caught on very quickly. Also, if we need to share information, scans can easily and securely be sent electronically to referring dentists.

Setting up this office has been an interesting, and often hectic experience. In the span of a few weeks, my husband, Glenn (who is in emergency medicine and helps monitor my in-office IV sedation), and I got a loan, designed our space, signed a 10-year lease, and discovered that we were going to have a baby. Troy Schmidt from Gendex, Jim Connor and Tami Lennox from Burkhart helped to reduce this potentially stressful situation. Jim and Tami went above and beyond to help me set up my practice with the hallmark integrity that Burkhart has always shown. Troy kept in touch and answered all of my questions, ensuring that I was happy with my decisions. Mary, the Gendex trainer, was patient and kind. They became my support group and gave me tips on everything from equipment to parenting. I returned to my new practice after three weeks of maternity leave, and my dreams continue to come true as I watch my baby and my practice grow.

Dr. Mahoney began her dental career in Arizona in 1990 as a pediatric dental assistant, working for her father. After 8 years of general and pediatric dental assisting, she went to college to become a dental hygienist and graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, Texas, in 1998. After graduation, a job opportunity took her to Luzern, Switzerland, where she practiced dental hygiene for 3 years.

After moving back to the states for dental school, she graduated, with honors, from Boston University School of Dental Medicine. She went on to complete a competitive residency at The University of Nevada School of Medicine. During her residency, she received intensive training in general dentistry, hospital dentistry, implant dentistry and sedation. Upon completion of residency, she and her husband, who works in emergency medicine, moved to Washington to be close to family. 

Washington is her final home, but through her many moves and travels she has gained life experiences. She feels that these experiences make her able to communicate and work with patients of all ages and backgrounds. Besides her work in private practice, Dr. Mahoney is also affiliate faculty at the University of Washington School of Dentistry. She says that she loves being a dentist because it allows her to help improve a person’s health and smile. She finds it rewarding to get to know her patients and really understand their individual expectations and desires in regards to their oral health. 

More info at Mahoney Family Dentistry

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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.   

The Gendex GXDP-300™ and GXDP-700™ systems are the pinnacle of Gendex's innovation in dental panoramic x-ray. Their intelligent touchscreen interfaces, sleek design features, and advanced diagnostic options are only a few examples of the company's commitment to innovation. These achievements were the culmination of decades of dedication to dental imaging. So let's step back in time for a journey along Gendex innovations in dental panoramic x-ray technology. 

During the 1970s, the GE-3000 was introduced as the company's first line of panoramic x-ray machines. The film support was cylindrical in shape to allow the film to rotate as it was being exposed to x-rays. A few years later, the breakthrough Panelipse™ was launched. This was a benchmark panorex and the first system to produce panoramic images with a constant magnification factor to achieve a proportionate representation of anatomical structures within the image. 

Right: The GE-3000 Pan (1970s), Left: The GXDP-700 Pan, Ceph, and 3D (2011) 

During the 1980s, Gendex's continuous desire to innovate and elevate the quality of dental care led its research and development team to the design and launch of the Gendex GX-Pan, which later became truly iconic dental panoramic x-ray equipment. The next generation of dental pans was even more exciting. The Orthoralix series, with its 9200 and 9000 versions, were among the first to adopt software-driven motion. Their direct digital series, the Orthoralix 9200 DDE and 8500 DDE, led the Gendex digital revolution in dental panoramic technology and real-time imaging processing capabilities. 

So what makes today's digital panoramic x-ray machines so special?

Here are some key features: 

• Instant imaging results to reduce wait times
• Eco-friendly process with no chemicals
• Increased consistency of imaging results
• Software image enhancements available 
• Electronic sharing and insurance claim processing
• New diagnostic views from bitewing to 3D scans

In August 2011, Gendex introduced a completely new extraoral platform featuring the GXDP-300 Pan and GXDP-700 Pan/Ceph/3D systems. These units reflect the Gendex tradition and our commitment to the clinician's experience, patient comfort, and innovation. The easy-to-use and intuitive touchscreen interfaces make operating these panoramic units as easy as 1-2-3. Gendex EasyPosition™ patient positioning system allows for a comfortable and proper patient position, resulting in crisp panoramic imaging results.  

If you are wondering why you should invest in a digital panoramic x-ray machine or upgrade your existing panoramic equipment, read Dr. Velazquez's ADA Peer2Peer study case on implant planning made possible with the aid of 3D x-ray scans, or listen to Dr. Annie Sohn talking about adopting digital panoramic x-ray technology in her practice.

To learn more about our latest technology marvels, just hit play on the videos below:  

Gendex GXDP-300 Digital Pan:

Gendex GXDP-700 Digital Pan, Ceph, and 3D Cone Beam (CBCT):

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.