CDIS installs cone beam imaging system

Pacific Smiles Group's Centre for Dental Implants Sydney has installed the latest Vatech E-Woo Picasso Trio imaging system from Integradent into their York Street location which combines cone beam imaging with an OPG and lateral ceph in one unit.

"If you want to be the Centre for Dental Implants, then you have to have the equipment to go with it," said PSG Executive Director Dr Alex Abrahams. "Cone beam imaging is revolutionising the way we practise and being able to access that technology within our premises has a range of benefits for our patients and our practitioners.

"As a dedicated implant surgery practice, it was logical for us to invest in this technology for rather than having to refer patients out to a radiographer.

"We wouldn't necessarily do that at our Greenhills Centre [in country NSW near Maitland] where we also place a lot of implants both because the local radiographer has brought the same machine and because in the country, patients want the Medicare rebate on the scan. In the city however, patients are looking for speed."

Dr Abrahams said that CDIS uses the NobelGuide implant planning and guided surgery system and this was a further reason to invest in cone beam technology. In addition, the system interfaces seamlessly with their Dental 4 Windows practice manegment software system with the 3D scans linking to each patient's record.

"The Picasso Trio caters perfectly to the needs of the practice. I'd been examining all the systems that were available and I like the fact that the Picasso Trio was a stand-up machine. It also offers a true OPG and lateral ceph, not a reconstructed view from the 3D scan. So when we thought about it from the patient's and the dentist's perspective and considered all our criteria, it wasn't a difficult choice in the end.

"There was talk that the Korean-made system is inferior in quality, however it is actually one of the most widely sold systems in the world. We did our own homework before we purchased and spent time in Singapore with dentists using it every day. Their positive experiences lent a fair bit of weight to our decision to buy."

A further feather in the cap of the Picasso Trio was that Newcastle Dental Imaging, a radiography practice and the first site in Australia to install the system, was already providing scans for Dr Abrahams and the Pacific Smiles' Team.

"Leo Klein from Newcastle Dental Imaging has had nothing but positive things to say about the Picasso Trio and we have had the advantage of working with the cone beam scans from his unit for some time.

"David Cathie from Integradent, the local agents, has also been very good at sorting through any issues we have and they have just conducted a seminar in the practice with one of Vatech's senior trainers. So all in all, it is proving a good investment."

Dr Abrahams said that almost every implant patient these days requires a scan just to be sure of the underlying bone and structures.

"I believe within the next 5 years, taking a cone beam scan will be the duty of care in dentistry and we want to be well and truly ahead of that curve."