Visualize Spectacularly

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

650.212.0300

prexion.com

Visualize Spectacularly

 Chris J. Stevens, DDS, shares how PreXion’s advanced CBCT scanner drives diagnostic accuracy and case acceptance in everyday dentistry 

For years, Dr. Chris Stevens thought that owning a CBCT was a luxury required only for those placing dental implants. So, it was only fitting that when he decided to take the leap into implant dentistry, adding the technology to his Sun Prairie, WI, practice was a natural next step. Instead of purchasing a system outright, Dr. Stevens opted to test the waters and work with a mobile truck that offered 3D imaging services, preselecting patients who he felt would benefit from a 3D scan.

“What I came to realize over time was the amount of pathology unseen in 2D that was now evident on those patients in 3D,” Dr. Stevens shared. “I was missing things on patients who I preselected for CBCT, so what was I missing on patients who I didn’t think needed it?”

Seeing the Unseen

It was this discovery that soon led him to purchase a PreXion 3D Excelsior PRO CBCT model and commit to taking 3D scans on every patient due for an FMX.

“I was amazed at what I found—not only on new patients, but also on patients of record,” Dr. Stevens reported. “And I was a bit disappointed in myself for not making this investment sooner.”

Image Quality with Support

According to Dr. Stevens, 2 key factors drove his decision to go with PreXion: image quality and software. “The image quality is absolutely spectacular,” he shared. “The first time I referred a case to an oral surgeon, he called me and said, ‘Where did you get these images?’ At that moment, I knew I had made the right choice.” Dr. Stevens also offered praise for the PreXion 3D Viewer Software, lauding its ability to easily manipulate images for accurate diagnoses.

Other PreXion perks include a longer warranty for parts than other manufacturers, as well as responsive support. “If we have a software concern, they answer the phone immediately and can remote in to correct any issue. So, we are never down,” Dr. Stevens said. He also appreciates PreXion’s partnership with a maxillofacial radiology company, which offers discounted image review and interpretation during challenging cases

Moving Patients to ‘Ready

’In Dr. Steven’s experience, patients will only accept treatment when they’re ready, and 3D imaging provides an effective means of getting them to confront and take ownership of their oral health.

“Our job as dentists is to create concern in the presence of concern,” he explained. “With CBCT, the patient can see the problem much better than they could on a 2D x-ray. This allows them to ‘own’ their condition and decide that they’re ready to do something about it.”

Dr. Stevens recalled a particular patient who, despite working in the dental industry, stubbornly refused treatment for an abscess diagnosed on a 2D x-ray. Like many patients, she reasoned that the area in question didn’t hurt.

“When we took a scan and she saw the proximity of that lesion to the inferior alveolar nerve, she immediately went in for treatment. She was ready because she could see it,” he shared. “This is a tool that needs to be in every general practice.”