Prexion: Improved Outcomes, Better Care
Clarity and precision at PreXion go beyond imaging to encompass its research and development efforts, customer support, and education offerings
When 3D imaging changed the way dentists worked, PreXion began developing digital imaging scanners and software to meet the demands of modern practices worldwide. Since its beginnings in Japan in 2004, PreXion has been committed to improving and advancing dental and medical imaging with smarter and better image quality that can be integrated into whole office solutions.
A wholly owned subsidiary of the Japanese Electronics company Funai Electric Ltd, PreXion made its mark by manufacturing and supplying dental imaging scanners and software, becoming an internationally known cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging system manufacturer.
With U.S. headquarters in San Jose, CA, the company has more than 15 years of experience in 3D DICOM image processing and software visualization, a market that accounted for $780 million in 2020 and is only expected to grow.
The company’s president and CEO, Yasutoyo Imada, has more than 3 decades of experience in both imaging and dental equipment manufacturing, including CBCT. The benefits offered by CBCT, such as improved resolution, low radiation dose, minimized scan time, and lower costs for patients over more traditional forms of 2D imaging, have placed PreXion’s solutions in high demand around the world.
The technology already has experienced an increase in research and development in the United States and the United Kingdom, setting a trend for future development thanks to its effective use in oral surgery, endodontics, general dental surgery, orthodontics, orthopedics, and dental implantation.
Leading Technology
In 2007, the company first presented its PreXion 3D Elite, which offered the world’s fastest data reconstitution time. Later, it began its expansion into the U.S. market with the distribution of the U.S.-exclusive PreXion 3D Excelsior model. The company’s TeraRecon 3D software has since become a market leader in more than 10,000 medical radiology centers throughout the United States, making it a game changer in terms of how images are captured and ultimately delivered.
PreXion eventually optimized its 3D Viewer software specifically for the dental industry for use with high-spatialresolution PreXion 3D CBCT scanners. The combination ultimately created one of the most successful 3D dental systems currently on the market.
Today, dental CBCT units, viewing software, energy-efficient medical-grade imaging servers, and fast CBCT “Thin Client” data
servers are among the most popular products in the PreXion catalog. In fact, all PreXion scanners with built-in software contain modules for evaluating dedicated 2D panoramic and 3D images, providing clinicians with accurate assessments of bone and surrounding anatomy while making 1:1 measurements.
When 3D imaging became standard in most clinical settings, PreXion took notice by developing a high-resolution imaging solution with lower radiation levels. The PreXion 3D Excelsior CBCT Scanner features accurate 360° rotation, 512 to 1,024 projected views, a dedicated 2D pan mode option, and clear detail with a 0.3-mm focal spot and 0.08-mm to 0.2-mm voxel.
In 2021, the new PreXion 3D Explorer PRO was introduced. In addition to offering pristine 3D image clarity, the newest iteration features an integrated cephalometric x-ray arm—the first of its kind. This new feature allows dental and specialty practices to save up to 2 feet of office space, while equipping them to capture cephalometric x-rays with conversion from CT or panoramic to ceph x-ray mode in only 30 seconds.
Behind the Scenes
A big part of the company’s growth has to do with its investment in the technology behind the scenes. A few years ago, PreXion partnered with Oracle NetSuite Global Business Unit to enhance its own business development strategy. This came on the heels of PreXion changing its business model from direct sales to wholesale through dental distributors in the U.S.
“As part of our global business growth strategy, we wanted to implement a cloud [enterprise resource planning] system to provide a platform that could give us the real-time business visibility needed to grow our company,” said Imada. “We can now make business decisions in real time from anywhere in the world, at any time, using any type of device. Not only has our productivity improved significantly, but our ability to notice changes to our business in real time has also greatly contributed to prompt and informed decision making. Having invested in a core system infrastructure that we trust has given us the confidence to continue to grow and expand our business in the United States and beyond.”
Since then, PreXion’s distribution has been rapidly expanding, serving thousands of customers in all 50 states and across 7 countries. Through diligent manufacturing processes and tireless research and development, the company has remained on the cutting edge of CBCT technology, having increased market share nearly 300% from 2016 to 2020.
According to the company, its unrivaled customer support and dedication to continuing education opportunities has enabled it to cultivate partnerships among fellow industry leaders, such as Catapult Education and 3D Diagnostics (3DDX).
The Future of Imaging
To say that PreXion is deeply committed to customer service is an understatement. The PreXion mission has always been built on support and customer care. And although PreXion has successfully sold direct in the U.S. dental market, the distribution model changed with the launch of the PreXion Excelsior 3D CBCT. PreXion’s products are now available through a robust dealer distribution network.
The company’s ongoing commitment to technology is on display in its product offerings as well. “PreXion has differentiated itself from competitors with faster, lowerradiation scanning, while improving image quality and diagnostic capability,” said Rob Gochoel, Vice President of Sales.
"PreXion has differentiated itself from competitors with faster, lower-radiation scanning while improving image quality and diagnostic capability.”
- Rob Gochoel, Vice President of Sales
Gochoel said the company listens to its customers when it comes to creating new and optimal solutions, noting how PreXion focuses its R&D on practitioners’ needs to maximize their investments in CBCT technology. “PreXion is committed to continuing to lead in imaging technology R&D, and is focused on providing our customers with excellent support,” he said. “High-quality 3D images enhance diagnostics and treatment planning for a wide range of procedures, including dental implants, surgical procedures, endodontics, periodontics, restorative dentistry, sleep analysis, TMD, and other general dentistry applications. Three-dimensional imaging is becoming standard of care.” PreXion’s investment into research and development has created 2 of dentistry’s most innovative CBCT units.
PreXion 3D Explorer
The world’s first 3D CBCT with integrated ceph x-ray enables precise 3D imaging, large image detail, low radiation exposure, and reliable diagnostic and digital planning for a range of services, including periodontology, endodontics, implantology, orthodontics, and maxillofacial surgery. It features a built-in ceph arm design that frees up more than 2 feet of space with multiple fields of view. The low dose, HD, and endo CT modes have a scan time of 20 seconds or less with 14-second pano and 16-second ceph scan times. There is also a version (Explorer EX) with the ceph x-ray that includes CT and dedicated pan functions only.
The software loads synchronized pre- and postoperative scans onto a single screen. The tools also automatically save 3D image reports to a template that can be attached to a patient’s record. The key feature is a 15×16-cm, single-pass fi eld of view with outstanding image clarity for sleep and TMD analysis.
PreXion 3D Excelsior PRO
The company’s flagship scanner is designed for implant placement, bone quality studies, pathology, periodontics, and endodontics. The system enables 3D imaging with large image detail, low radiation exposure, diagnostics, and digital planning. Its built-in patient management systems designed for secure and networked communication of patient data across several rooms within a practice. Multiple patient scans can be loaded onto the screen and synchronized.
PreXion 3D Excelsior PRO also can quickly capture 3D video clips with collaborative tools that save imaging reports to a patient’s record. The unit is compatible with all DICOM-compliant third-party implant surgical guide and CAD-DICOM merging software programs. In a Dental Product Shopper review of the Excelsior PRO, dentists rated all criteria 4.5 (out of 5) or higher. The ability of the system to help dentists provide patient education and increase case acceptance received a perfect 5.0 rating.
Grace Chu, DMD, said that Excelsior PRO helped her patients “visualize and understand the treatment recommendations and long-term prognosis.” Dr. Chad Duplantis said that he feels more comfortable in his diagnoses and specifically mentioned diagnosing the extent of an oblique fracture before treatment, which allowed him to restore the tooth without any issues.
Case in Point
Dentists know that showing rather than just telling is key to patient acceptance of their treatment recommendations. The same can be said of dentists who are still on the fence about integrating new technologies into their practices.
PreXion features 2 examples of “showdon’t-tell” on their website, where dentists can view and read about cases that illustrate the benefits of 3D CBCT.
One of the cases makes clear the importance of identifying defects. In the 2D images, a dentist might suspect a potential problem, but a definitive diagnosis can’t be made. In the sagittal multi-planar reconstruction view acquired with PreXion 3D, the root fracture is clearly visible (see images on the first page).
The bottom line is that PreXion 3D CBCT technology can improve a dentist’s diagnostic accuracy and increase their confidence, ultimately reducing any risk to the patient.
To view the other case showing PreXion 3D CBCT at work, visit prexion. com/case-studies.
