Welcome to the i-CAT® blog!
We will keep you up to date on the latest i-CAT and Cone Beam 3D news in the dental industry, including product information, technology updates, clinical applications, case studies, events, promotions and more!
We look forward to keeping in touch with you and hearing your feedback. Please check back often for updates. Enjoy!
Team i-CAT
The Win-A-Free i-CAT sweepstakes winner has been chosen, and Dr. Patrick Hermanson and his team in Pierre, South Dakota are in celebration mode! Dr. Hermanson says that while he is not in the habit of entering contests, “When I saw this sweepstakes, I thought that having a cone beam 3D unit in my office would be an amazing addition to my practice. If I was going to take a chance on entering any contest, this would be it.”
As a general practitioner in a small city, Dr. Hermanson also does some endodontic procedures and oral surgery since specialists are almost 200 miles away. He is looking forward to the precise details that his cone beam 3D scanner will provide. He describes, “The i-CAT will help us to perform periodontics and endodontics more efficiently. We want to evaluate the health of the bone, see bony pockets for periodontal evaluation, and view the position of the roots in the jaw better. I will be prepared for any deviation from the norm with a 3-dimensional scan.”
Dr. Hermanson also shares the office with another GP and an oral surgeon, who places implants. They are looking forward to using Tx STUDIO™ software, with its ability to precisely visualize teeth, roots, and sinuses. The Tx STUDIO™ restoration design feature allows the clinician to plan an entire treatment from surgical placement of implant and abutment through final restoration at the onset of planning.
Since Dr. Hermanson will be the only dentist in his area to have 3D capability, he anticipates that the i-CAT will increase his referrals and collaborations with other dentists. He also figures that once other dentists see what the i-CAT can do, they will make plans to get one too.
We will revisit Dr. Hermanson after his i-CAT has been in use for a while, and he has some patient success stories to tell. Right now, he is anxiously awaiting delivery of his sweepstakes prize. After working with 2D imaging — a film unit for bitewings and PAs and a digital panoramic — he notes, “This is a big change compared to what we had before. We are so excited because this is the next big step.”
The old adage says that three’s a charm, so being a six-time winner is twice as amazing! i-CAT® was honored for the sixth time in a row as the recipient of the Townie Choice Award for the Best Cone Beam CT Scanner. At Imaging Sciences International, we hear that i-CAT dentists are very enthusiastic about the system’s powerful treatment solutions, increased clinical and radiation dose control, and fastest workflow, as well as the many applications of Tx STUDIO™ software, for planning of implants, airway procedures, TMD, orthodontics and surgical procedures. The Townie Choice award means so much because voters are practicing dentists who are witnessing the benefits of this dynamic imaging technology every day in their practices.
i-CAT is not just an overnight sensation. In 2012, Imaging Sciences International celebrated two decades of innovation and dedication to dental imaging. This anniversary reflects many milestones in the advanced dental and maxillofacial radiography and the 3D radiographic systems that have become among the most trusted in the dental industry—the i-CAT® Next Generation, i-CAT® Precise™ and their exclusive software applications.
DentalTown’s editors write that deciding on the right dental product for a practice can be a daunting task. They describe the Townie Choice awards as “a compass pointing the way to the dental industry product aces – as chosen by your colleagues, not industry salesmen.” Knowing which products have proven beneficial for colleagues is a “shortcut to excellence.” DentalTown’s announcement of award winners sums it all up, “You know what it means when, on a product, you see the gold-dunked statue hoisting the ‘Townie Choice’ logo: It means you can trust it.”
To read more about the Townie Choice Awards and dentists’ vote of confidence for i-CAT, visit www.i-cat.com/assets/documents/TCA-Radiology.pdf
On October 26-27, 2012, clinicians will gather in Denver, Colorado to get a different view of implants, orthodontics, TMJ and airway diagnosis, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and periodontics—a 3D view.
The 2-day 6th International Congress on 3D Dental Imaging will feature hands-on training and live 3D scan sessions, practical sessions, and a vendor showcase that will spotlight supporting 3D products for imaging, implant, restorative systems, orthodontics and 3D treatment-planning software.
Sessions appeal to all levels of experience, whether you are looking for some basic info on 3D imaging, or are already acquainted with the benefits of CBCT in the dental practice.
Some of this year’s topics include:
Besides gaining insight into this dynamic imaging modality, attendees receive 16 CE credits for attending the event.
CBCT imaging allows dentists to expand their options for patient care. From planning to implementation, i-CAT scan technology’s incredibly detailed 3D images boost efficiency and accuracy, helping clinicians to approach procedures with added confidence. New applications for 3D scans facilitate compatibility with CAD/CAM, the creation of surgical guides, and customized robotic arch wires.
The Congress is a great opportunity to meet other i-CAT users and discuss treatment planning and utilization possibilities with those who have already implemented this technology. With the help of colleagues’ insight, practitioners can get to hear first-hand accounts of the clinical advantages for diagnosis, treatment planning, and implementation that result in better patient care.
Come to the Mile High City in October and see how 3D imaging can take your practice to a new level of care. Attendees can easily register online, by fax, or over the phone. For more information on the 6th International Congress, sponsored by Imaging Sciences International and Henry Schein Dental, please call, 1-800-205-3570 or visit: http://www.i-cat.com/events/live-3d-events/
See more pictures from past events at www.facebook.com/iCAT3D
When looking for a new dental practitioner a decade ago, many people “let their fingers do the walking with the Yellow Pages.” In recent years, with the growth of the Internet, the tech-generation is letting their fingers do the clicking on the keyboard through Google and other Internet search engines. Finding the name of a dentist on the Internet is relatively simple. But location alone is not the deciding factor in the choice of practitioner. Patients are encouraged to call or make an appointment and find out more about the dentist, and the types of technology at the dental office. For many procedures, such as implants, endodontics, and orthodontics, having the right technology can make a difference. In the “Consultation Room” at www.conebeaminfo.com, patients are advised to explore if the orthodontist “is using ‘up-to-date’ technology to provide you or your child the best tools for treatment planning and diagnosis.” Cone beam technology provides the kind of information about the teeth, roots, and bone that can help the doctor to diagnose more succinctly, plan more efficiently, and have more confidence in the successful completion of the treatment plans for procedures such as implants, root canals, and tooth movement. Even better, the dentist can view details on a 3D scan that in the past could only be determined by surgery—and share the visuals with their patients. Clinicians who use i-CAT’s powerful, flexible, and fast CBCT technology, take advantage of compatibility with the latest in CAD/CAM programs (robotics and guided surgery) so that they can offer patients less invasive and more predictable treatment. Also, with i-CAT, control over image size and low dose scanning allows scan radiation dosage to be tailored to the needs of each individual patient. When patients are seeking the most comprehensive dental care for themselves and their families, 3D imaging shows that the doctor has added the extra dimension to his/her practice. Choosing an i-CAT shows that he/she has chosen to implement the best.
The feature-rich Tx STUDIO 3D planning software fully integrates with the Award-Winning i-CAT® cone beam 3D systems to provide highly effective diagnosis and treatment-planning capabilities.
Imaging Sciences International is pleased to announce the release of Tx STUDIO, now fully integrated into i-CAT® Next Generation™ and i-CAT® Precise™ systems. This powerful software creates the opportunity for general dentists and specialists alike to take advantage of i-CAT’s award-winning 3D imaging with comprehensive treatment planning tools for implants, airway, TMD, orthodontics, and a myriad of surgical procedures. It is the only software to be bundled with a CBCT system that does everything from diagnostics to implant and orthodontic treatment planning.
Designed by clinicians for clinicians, Tx STUDIO delivers uniquely comprehensive tools covering treatments from Implants to Orthodontics. With its wide selection of treatment-planning features, Tx STUDIO is an excellent addition to i-CAT cone beam 3D systems which are known for their unparalleled clinical and dose control, as well as the industry’s fastest workflow.
Click here to READ MORE about implant, abutment, and restoration planning, virtual TAD placement, 3D Cephalometric Analysis, face-MATCH photo-wrapping, virtual study models, airway analysis, TMJ visualization tools, Diagnostic Reports Tool, full 3D visualization, and video capture.
Here’s some good news for our Owners and the entire i-CAT Family—i-CAT® Precise™ with Tx STUDIO® has been voted “Best New Software” in the dental industry in the third annual DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards—a competition designed “to recognize the best and brightest in dentistry.” According to Dr. Bicuspid, “All candidates were nominated by members of DrBicuspid.com, who then voted in two subsequent rounds to determine the winners.”
For both general dentists and specialists who place and restore implants and perform surgical procedures, the i-CAT Precise 3D + panoramic imaging solution offers confidence and efficiency in diagnosis and treatment. The exclusive Tx STUDIO treatment planning software is a valuable asset when placing and restoring implants; performing guided surgery and complex extractions; and treating endodontic cases, as well as facilitating patient education and treatment acceptance.
The honor by Dr. Bicuspid was announced while Team i-CAT was still reveling over winning the Townie Choice Award for the Best Cone Beam 3D scanner for the fifth year in a row! We know that all of our i-CAT-powered products give dentists the opportunity to offer more precise treatment planning and implementation, but it is always great to hear that dentists across the nation share our pride and commitment to individualized patient care. Thank you all for your support and validation.
Ashok Shah, general manager of DrBicuspid.com , notes “This is an exciting time in the field of oral healthcare, and the DrBicuspid Dental Excellence Awards provide a wonderful opportunity for the dental community to acknowledge those individuals, products, services, and events that are contributing to many of the historical changes taking place.” Imaging Sciences is proud to receive this acknowledgement—and other accolades—for our achievements as we continue to release new advanced products into the i-CAT line.
For more information on i-CAT Precise featuring Tx STUDIO software, please click here.
A skilled dentist with great technology can hope that patients will spread the word to family and friends. But, so many more people can benefit, it they only knew the possibilities for their dental care. In this era of Internet and electronic communications, some proud i-CAT owners are spreading the exciting news of their innovative 3D imaging systems through different forms of media. An implant dentist from the Chicago loop area sent out a press release to announce that he is one of the few select dental practices within Chicago to have an i-CAT that helps him to “dramatically enhance the level of care offered to patients.”
Oral Surgeon, Dr. Steven Koos, owner of ORA® Oral Surgery & Implant Studio explained his reasons for investing in i-CAT. “For one, it allows us to more thoroughly analyze a patient’s anatomy to determine the best course of treatment. The technology also affords us the opportunity to visually show a patient what we see and more easily explain treatment. This increases confidence levels in patients and makes them feel more comfortable with their treatment.” Dr. Koos also is proud of the fact that he operates a “green oral surgery practice, promoting eco-friendly dentistry,” and i-CAT fits right into that niche, as well. He explains, “As a Chicago oral surgery practice focused on environmental responsibility that spans all aspects of how we operate our practice, the fact that the i-CAT scanner is digital, forgoing toxic x-ray chemicals and film manufacturing and emits dramatically lower radiation compared to other CT scanners was of supreme importance to us.” See Dr. Koos’ press release.
At i-CAT, we are honored to be able to help Dr. Koos and his team to accomplish his clinical and environmental goals and be an integral part of his marketing efforts. Dentists who utilize i-CAT technology should spread the good news through social media, blogs, press releases and websites. Potential patients want to know about technology that can provide better diagnostics and treatment planning. The next time someone does an Internet search searching for a dentist with the latest in 3D CBCT imaging, take the steps so that the practice that they discover is yours. See you on the web!
The Townie interactive healthcare community of Dentaltown, has named Imaging Sciences’ i-CAT the winner in the “X-ray Equipment, Cone Beam Scanner” category for its 2011 Townie Choice Awards, making this the fifth consecutive year that this leading cone beam 3D system has received the honor.
The Townie Choice Awards are “determined by true dental professionals who are aided and served by the items in each category on a day-to-day basis,” according to Dentaltown. Peer evaluation is a valuable factor in determining products that have consistently shown effectiveness, predictability, and practice-building benefits.
“Customer loyalty plays an important part in our role as a leader in cone beam 3D dental imaging,” states Mark Hillebrandt, Director of Marketing for Imaging Sciences. “It’s an amazing feeling to know that our products are making a difference in dental offices throughout the nation.”
This recognition follows numerous past accolades that i-CAT has garnered, including Pride Institute’s “Best of Class,” and multiple awards from Lorne Lavine’s Dental Equipment and Technology Guide.
The highly utilized i-CAT cone beam 3D technology is embodied in two powerful imaging solutions, the i-CAT® Next Generation with full and extended scan sizes ideal for orthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, implant and restorations, and i-CAT® Precise™ with scan sizes up to 8 cm in height well-suited for implants and oral surgery. Both systems feature the comprehensive treatment tools of the exclusive Tx STUDIO®, the fastest 3D workflow, and more clinical and dose control with i-Collimator’s adjustable scan size options and low-dose scan settings.
For more information on the benefits of i-CAT’s family of products, visit www.i-cat.com.
Each day, research centers discover information that improves people’s quality of life. Robert S. Schoor, DDS, associate professor and director of the Advanced Education Program in Periodontics at New York University (NYU) wrote an article entitled, “The role of antibiotics in periodontal diseases” which challenged the traditional view of using antibiotics for periodontal conditions. While the article expressed concerns about increase in bacterial resistance, allergic reactions and drug interactions associated with prophylactic administration of antibiotics, it also reiterated that surgery with prophylactic antibiotic supplementation demonstrated therapeutic outcomes comparable to surgery without such coverage.
Studies such as these help dentists take a closer look at established protocols regarding diagnosis and treatment. Each in its own way allows the doctor to obtain more detailed information that makes healing faster and avoids possible complications.
The same is true for CBCT imaging. A scan before procedures such as implants, restorations, and oral and maxillofacial or TMJ surgery, can determine precise tooth position to view tooth location, proximity to adjacent teeth and vital structures, nerve and sinus involvement and other conditions that will effect treatment. In some cases, a 3D view can help dentists to avoid unnecessary surgeries, resulting in procedures with less tissue trauma and speedier healing. In orthodontics, a high-definition, low-dose scan can be used not only for thorough diagnosis; it can be used to create a 3D cephalometric analysis and produce virtual study models for impressionless dentistry.
With all of the innovative studies going on at research centers, we are excited to know that i-CAT is capturing 3D scans at NYU, and leading to possible new breakthroughs in dentistry and less invasive procedures. Whether the focus is biological, regarding antibiotic therapies, or anatomical, such as new options for implants, knowledge and cutting-edge technology are the ingredients to improved dental health and patient care. We are proud to add that extra dimension to research, diagnosis, and treatment.
It is fascinating to be a dentist in this age of technology. As you will see in one of our previously recorded webinars, CBCT broadens practitioners’ horizons, allowing for faster, safer, less invasive, and more understandable procedures. Having new technology touches a dental office in many ways, mostly in the operatory, but also in the front office. While the doctor and the patient seem to get all of the satisfaction of the 3D experience, what about the team members at the front who are figuring out how to file claims for insurance and payments? Discovering how to navigate this potential “adventure” is the focus of the session, “Successful Reimbursement Strategies When Billing for CBCT,” given by Dr. Steven Sudbrink and Kimberly Innocent.
Innocent has been the administrator of operations and staffing at Sudbrink Oral Surgery Associates, PC, for seven years and is vice president and operational advisor for Practice Concepts, LLC. She is also a certified professional coder (CPC) through the American Academy of Professional Coders. She and Dr. Sudbrink will discuss how to manage necessary calls and verify the requirements for a seamless reimbursement process. For example, understanding description codes and making sure documentation supports the scan’s medical necessity are key determining factors for insurance companies deciding on reimbursement. Without including those, the insurance companies are left to read the doctor’s mind, and those psychic messages don’t always connect efficiently.
Adding i-CAT cone beam 3D technology to an existing insurance contract can take 5 minutes, with the right information at hand. An office shouldn’t need to call James Bond to break the insurance company code. No secret agents, or special tools are needed for this adventure—be prepared to learn the facts, and the strategies to become a hero to your billing team at this eye-opening session!
To view the previously recorded webinar, visit the Training Page.
