As growing numbers of Australians search for more affordable and aesthetically pleasing alternatives to traditional metal braces, the clear aligner market is poised for a huge wave in the years ahead.
 
By Danny Chan
 
Recent market research estimates that the Australian clear aligner market will reach nearly three quarters of a billion dollars (AUD $739M) by 2028. This translates to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 28.7% from 2021 to 2028.
 
The growth projection sits well with recent reporting from Orthodontics Australia that finds more than half (55%) of the population is self-conscious about their teeth, and 62% are willing to fix their misaligned teeth.
 
However, this double-digit swell will simply crash over the heads of most general dentists in the country, according to the founders of Clear Aligner Excellence (CAE).
 
Doctors Geoff Hall and Jesse Green believe that aligners are currently being under-utilised by general dentists to treat patients and their associated malocclusion.   
 
The reasons for the underutilisation, as they see it, include:
 
1.Lack of clinical confidence to offer treatment to the types of malocclusions presenting in their practice every day.
2.Lack of business and practice management processes to effectively integrate aligner therapy into their practice.
3.The impact of aligner lab fees on profit margins.
 
You say you want a revolution...
 
Using a monthly subscription and membership model, CAE was set up to help members overcome these barriers through:
 
1.Providing online clinical and practice development training and education.
2.Driving patient traffic through internal and external marketing campaigns.
3.Access to an exclusive buying network.
 
Regarded as one of Australia’s pioneers in modern-day orthodontics and education, Dr Geoff Hall is a specialist orthodontist that also runs MP Orthodontics in Cheltenham, Melbourne, as co-owner and principal Orthodontist.
 
“Most aligner companies charge Australian dentists about double than what they charge dentists in America.  We have been royally screwed over from the aligner lab fees,” Dr Hall says.
 
“Our goal is to level the playing field for CAE member dentists and in turn reducing cost as a barrier to patients accepting treatment,” Dr Hall says.
 
“What we’ve done is develop commercial relationships with major aligner companies to negotiate preferred pricing for CAE members,” he shares.
 
“The buying network will offer heavy discounts and preferential rates covering lab fees for all major aligner systems including Invisalign®, SmileStyler®, ClearCorrect®, SureSmile®, and AngelAlign®.  The resulting savings in aligner lab fees can be as much as AUD $900 per case, and additional reputable aligner brands are on the way.”
 
“Based on what we now offer, the treatment is more commercially viable. We are going to revolutionise the way aligner therapy is done in Australia.”
 
The negotiated savings, they add, will also cover non-aligner and complementary services.
 
Strength in unity
 
The overriding goal of CAE is to drive the uptake of aligner therapy – or as Dr Hall puts it, increase the ‘aligner pie’ by expanding clinical applicability and increasing case conversion rates. 
 
He believes this can be achieved through CAE’s Aligner Accelerator Program (AAP). The AAP delivers eight training sessions on clinical orthodontics with a particular focus on aligners and another eight training sessions on integrating clear aligners into the practice.
 
In addition, CAE will provide ongoing monthly training and education to members to further drive clinical confidence and practice integration.
 
In applying the aphorism that ‘a rising tide lifts all boats,’ the purpose of CAE is not simply to get more general dentists onto the aligner bandwagon, but to equip them with the clinical, business and commercial skills, in a bid to raise the overall quality of the aligner market.
 
The ‘E’ in CAE
 
Author, speaker and entrepreneur, Dr Jesse Green is the dental business coach behind Savvy Dentist, which is a dental training and consultation outfit that helps dentists develop financial intelligence, create high performance teams, and master the art of patient flow.
 
According to Dr Green, the word ‘Excellence’ should be viewed from different angles, with clinical training and education being only one aspect of it. 
 
“Dr Hall will train the dentists to become clinically confident CAE-accredited doctors, giving them the ability to perform aligner treatments to the highest standards of excellence,” he says.
 
“However, in my experience,” Dr Green shares, “successful integration of clear aligners for dental practices is challenging because of the perceived “elective” nature of aligners, and the lack of systems designed to effectively present and close those cases.”
 
“Therefore, the training that I provide will help them become excellent from a practice management point of view – to become more profitable, scalable and valuable.”
 
Through the CAE, member dentists will learn how to optimise their internal patient databases to generate leads and convert patients. This includes additional training for front desk staff and treatment coordinators. CAE also runs a direct-to-public marketing platform that will help drive patient traffic to all members and their practices.
 
Leveraged income
 
Dr Hall believes clear aligner therapy to be the only area in dentistry where you can delegate the time-consuming aspects of the work to a hygienist or oral health therapist.
 
“This is the most leveraged form of income a dentist will ever make,” Dr Green adds.
 
“We will show them how to diagnose a clear aligner case, but ultimately have the treatment delivered by others.”
 
“Compared to scaling and cleaning that earns $200 an hour,” he continues, “when it comes to aligners, your hygienist can make over $1,000 an hour for you. And it’s totally scalable.”
 
Catching the wave
 
Says Dr Green: “My experience in working with dental practices across Australia has shown that most dentists are starting about one new clear aligner case per month.  However, we have seen success in full integration of aligner therapy in the practice resulting in starting a new clear aligner case each week, on average.”
 
“Going from one case a month to one case a week can add as much as AUD $270K in annual revenue to the practice.”
 
With the Australian dental aligner marketplace projected to grow by double digits, both Dr Hall and Dr Green say CAE membership is a no-brainer for a vast majority of general dentists in the country.
 
Based on their calculations, it takes the dentist roughly 1.2 aligner cases a month to cover the costs of CAE monthly membership.
 
CAE also has special enterprise pricing for those dentists who are already doing over 50 cases a year, so they too can benefit from all the ongoing education and great ancillary value which is exclusively offered to CAE members.
 
“A veritable tsunami wave for clear aligners is coming,” Dr Green emphasises, “and CAE network providers will be uniquely positioned to ride that wave faster and further than their peers.”
 
If you require more information about Clear Aligner Excellence call 1 300 002 239 or visit https://clearex.com.au/

​If statistics are anything to go by, dental practices that do not provide SMS text messaging services may be shortchanging their customers.
 
By Danny Chan
 
Question: Do the majority of Australian customers prefer to interact with businesses by phone or email? According to a recent business survey on customer communication trends, the answer may well be neither.
 
Results of the 2021 Local Business Messaging Trends Report (Australia Edition) show that almost 66% of consumers agree that having the option to text businesses would significantly increase convenience.
 
Most Australian consumers still call or email their local businesses as they are the predominant modes of interaction that businesses offer. Tellingly, the same survey found that only 12% of local businesses use text as a marketing tool.
 
Closing the gap
 
According to Dave Schiene, the Australia Country Manager of Podium, the company behind the survey, dental practice owners have much to gain from closing this gap in service.
 
“Today, so many of us live and work via our smartphones. For local businesses, this presents a significant opportunity,” he says.
 
“According to our report, Aussies on average open text messaging within three minutes. Our research also found that 95% of texts were opened in that time and overall texts have an open rate of 98 per cent.
 
“These statistics are important factors for businesses within the dental industry as it’s proof of how customers prefer to communicate and are looking for channels that offer convenience and speed.”
 
Podium is an SMS-based platform that helps local businesses receive reviews, collect payments, send SMS campaigns, and centralise their communications. Podium’s centralised platform even aggregates communications from channels such as Google, Facebook, Instagram and TripAdvisor.
 
Launched in 2014, the business serves more than 100,000 local businesses in the United States, Canada and Australia. Schiene says their customer base in Australia has almost quadrupled to over 3,000 local businesses since the start of the pandemic.
 
“Locally, we have over 70 employees in Australia and want to significantly expand our headcount to almost double that over the coming 12 months,” he adds.
 
Numbers don’t lie
 
Whether disseminating the latest teeth whitening offer, new patient promotion or announcing a new branch opening, many dentists are turning to EDM (electronic direct mail) and other SEO-driven, web-based campaigns to keep their patients informed.
 
Yet few are aware that SMS open rates are as high as 98%, compared to the email’s average open rate of 18% and click-through rate of just 2.6%. On average, it takes 90 seconds for someone to respond to a text as compared to 90 minutes for an email.
 
“It’s evident from our research that consumers want personal conversations with a business. Over half (56%) of mobile messaging is done through SMS texting (or iMessage) while the remaining 44% is done via third party apps such as WhatsApp, Telegram, and Facebook Messenger. Text has a 209% higher response rate than phone, email, or Facebook,” Schiene says.
 
“In terms of promotional messaging, our research revealed that 75% of consumers welcome SMS messages, when opted in. Consumers also redeem SMS coupons or promotions 10 times more than other types of coupons.
 
“When consumers were asked which channels they would like, but do not currently use, to learn about promotions from local businesses they frequent, text messaging was the top choice – higher than email, website or social media.”
 
More than just text
 
Some businesses underestimate SMS due to the common perception that it is less versatile than email marketing, which has the benefit of displaying colour, pictures and even animated content. Did you know that, apart from sending out appointment reminders and the occasional promotional blurb, SMS can help to increase your lead generation, conversion rates and feedback gathering?
 
Those are some of the practical benefits realised by Cairns Dental Precision Group via Podium’s turnkey messaging services. Built around text messaging, Podium offers a range of communication services aimed at helping the practice more effectively connect with their patients: Reviews, Payments, Webchat, Feedback, Teamchat, Inbox, Videochat and Campaigns.
 
“By using the ‘Campaigns’ tool, the practice was able to use SMS for customer service, updates and promotions,” Schiene says.
 
“Customers also used SMS to contact the dental practice directly which simplified scheduling appointments and gave patients the opportunity to opt-in to be notified for upcoming promotions and offers.”
 
Since working with Podium, Cairns Precision Dental Group’s opt-in list for text communication has grown to over 3,300 subscribers. By streamlining the process of leaving a review, the Group saw its average star rating increase from 4.47 to 4.85 and over 100 reviews were posted within the first month.
 
“Reviews is a great tool that can streamline the review collection process. Reviews automatically sends patients an invitation to leave a review via text message after their appointment, encouraging them to share their experience,” Schiene explains.
 
“This way, patients have an easy and convenient way to leave a review. Webchat allows them to engage with the business instantly, with a human-to-human interaction, rather than through email.”
 
The message is clear
 
While the phone and email are still utilised for customer interactions, Schiene says the trend is unmistakable if you pay attention to what customers really want.
 
“Our research shows that messaging has taken over. Customers use the phone and email only because they think that’s how local businesses are set up to interact.”
 
For businesses that offer alternate channels of communication – such as calling, emailing, website chat, texting and Facebook Messenger – Schiene says consumers are almost twice as likely (1.8 times) to prefer texting to any other communication method.
 
“Through text messaging, patients can be kept up-to-date with the latest updates and promotions as well as a more simplified way to coordinate upcoming appointments,” he adds.
 
“Customers want convenience today, and text messaging is exactly that.”

Passionate about identifying and treating the root causes of dental problems that often extend beyond the oral cavity, Dr Joseph Da Cruz has the ideal cone-beam unit for the job.
 
By Danny Chan
 
From addressing headaches and migraines to TMJ pain to obstructive sleep apnoea, the dentist developed his own methodology and Mandibular Advancement Device (MAD) to treat a multitude of health problems – some of which are cases that he says have commonly been misdiagnosed or areas where dentists have trouble understanding the full extent of.  
 
He is Founder and Principal Dentist of Wholistic Dentistry, a Queanbeyan practice which philosophy is predicated on the view that “the current perception of the dental field, viewed both by medical physicians and the broader community, is narrow and does not reflect the true capacity that dentistry can offer patients.”
 
Dr Da Cruz believes that dentists have much to offer in the diagnosis and treatment of fundamental structural issues in the human body that affect the nervous system and the rest of the body. He is currently involved in non-invasive dental treatment, focusing on interrelated conditions of malocclusion, TMD and sleep disordered breathing using functional appliance therapy. His work is facilitated through use of the Splint, Orthopaedic, Myofunctional dental Appliance (SOMA).
 
Based on occusion signalling as well as growth and development patterns, the appliance was created to correct issues pertaining to translation of the lower jaw. Central to the clinician’s treatment philosophy is the need to calm the nervous system and relax muscles. SOMA as well as the integrated, single-phase treatment approach – developed in collaboration with Dr John Diamond – is unique to Dr Da Cruz’s work.
 
As someone who frequently operates outside the purview of general dentistry, the holistic dentist adopts cutting edge technology to help stay ahead of the curve. The tech savvy dentist owns a fully equipped in-house lab powered by Sirona Cerec McX5, in addition to the KaVo Key Laser 3, Seiler Revelation Dental Microscope, MyRay cone-beam flatbed unit and ICAT cone-bean x-ray that he has been using for over 13 years.
 
The latest addition to his diagnostic toolbox is the Green 21, Vatech’s top-end cone-beam innovation that he purchased in 2018. Dr Da Cruz says the unit’s top-notch image clarity and large FOV makes it one of few CBCTs out there that can rise to his exacting diagnostic demands.
 
“You need a large FOV that allows you to see more of the neck, which is important in my field. The issue is not necessary the airway or sleep apnoea but it could be a neck issue, TMJ or a big tongue so it helps to see all of it in crisp detail.”  
 
The Green 21 offers a wide range of selectable FOV that helps to limit patient radiation exposure, and allows users to capture only the region of interest. Users can select between 21x19, 17x15, 17x11, 12x9, and 8x8 fields of view. The large 21x19 FOV is designed for complete diagnostic imaging, covering the airway as well as ENT regions.
 
For his type of work, Dr Da Cruz says the image quality of a cone-beam machine is non-negotiable. One of the reasons he picked the Vatech x-ray unit has to do with the Korean company’s superior optical sensors, which is constructed from in-house components – all the way from CMOS design to viewer software. The Green 21 utilizes a proprietary 49.5 um high-resolution x-ray sensor, which makes it one of the finest pixel and highest resolution CBCTs available on the market today.
 
Dr Da Cruz relates how in just one year of using the Green 21, the machine already helped with the early detection of a patient’s tumour. “From the clear image, I could detect that she had bone loss which led to further investigation and discovering the tumour.”
 
“It’s so gratifying to know that you’ve made a difference to someone’s life, especially in this case because she went on to have twins,” he beams, “plus this was a peculiar jaw problem with potential for misdiagnosis.”  
 
Besides top-notch sensors, the dentist attributes Green 21’s high resolution images to the ease with which patients are positioned with minimal movement during capture – thanks to a sturdy and patient-friendly chin-holder – and 64-bit image processing capability. The latter feature greatly improves anti-aliasing and scaling with far more accurate rendition, as compared to 32-bit images. Having invested in six new computers that can support this advanced imaging feature, Dr Da Cruz says the financial outlay was well worth the returns: “It literally pays for itself.”
 
One of the key features of the multi-modality CBCT is its ability to automatically generate up to six images – Panorama, PA Ceph, Lateral Ceph, SMV Ceph, and Waters' View Ceph – in one scan. With a few simple clicks, the system can capture images for craniofacial, maxillofacial, and orthodontic treatment planning.
 
“Not only does the (Green 21) help you to formulate treatment plans more accurately, it practically sets up the conversation with your patient.”
 
“When patients cannot visualise the treatment plan, you need to do it for them. The quality of the images therefore becomes an integral facet of this conversation.”
 
It also helps to have an in-house unit when attending to overseas or interstate patients that simply do not have the time to shuttle between the practice and an imaging centre. The convenience factor is a major plus for Wholistic Dentistry’s visiting implant surgeon, who can access the x-rays on the spot and make decisions on the fly.
 
The Green 21’s volumetric analysis and measurement tools are indispensible for documentation and making accurate comparisons over time, whether for showing patients or teaching other dentists. A powerful tool for airway volume analysis, the Green 21 features the 2-click airway region selection; automatic airway volume measurement; as well as simultaneous analysis for both TMJ. 
 
“The type of research and clinical work that I do is rather new. Proper case documentation is very important for establishing the feasibility and success rates of my treatments, some of which are presented as case studies in my lectures.”
 
“The Green 21 is essential for advancing evidence-based dentistry in my practice as a remarkable teaching and communication tool.”
 
Dr Da Cruz’s success dealing with complex cases – some of which were referred to him after having received little or no help elsewhere – has attracted interest from the orthodontic and broader dental communities in Australia, India, China and the US, where he recently held a two-day speaking seminar with progressive orthodontist Dr Barry Raphael in New Jersey.
 
“Beyond surgical treatments, dentists can provide treatment for conditions previously thought unconnected to dentistry – as my work in the last 43 years would testify. I’ve been treating my practice like a research lab over the years accumulating a string of success stories showing positive results from repeatable treatment modalities.”
 
Happy with his purchase decision and Vatech’s customer support, he adds:
 
“Whether to investigate the airway, neck, jaw or teeth, I want the best quality x-ray machine that provides long-term comparative metrics for my work now and into the future.”
 
“The Green 21 has been – and will be – that machine for me.”
 
 
 

Vatech’s Australian distributor in Queensland shares why the Korean imaging solutions company possesses all the right ingredients for partnership
 
By Danny Chan
 
As you would expect from someone who deals in sales and servicing of high-end medical and dental equipment, Jane Miller, CEO of Medical Dental Solutions (MDS) is acutely aware of what healthcare professionals look for in quality ware, now and in the near future. Beginning as ADEC Australian dealer in 2005, MDS has evolved over the years into a Medical and Dental Sales, Service and Repair Company that provides products and services across an extensive range of Medical, Dental, Veterinary, Podiatry and Sterilization Equipment.
 
Through MDS’ vast equipment offering and their diverse customer base, Jane has worked with enough Australian healthcare professionals to understand their stringent equipment demands, from brand recognition to build quality, technical specifications to technological features. To satisfy discerning customers in a knowledge-driven marketplace requires exacting attention to detail and a keen eye for products that promise future traction – traits that fortunately, Jane and her team have consistently displayed, if MDS’s carefully sourced and curated range is anything to go by.
 
The rewarding partnership between MDS and Vatech Medical forged in 2014 was a clear example. Although Vatech had already established a global footprint for its imaging systems, it was still considered a lesser-known brand in Australia when the opportunity for distributorship was floated about four years ago.
 
“When deciding to partner with an equipment manufacturer based overseas, the qualities we look for are their company ethics, brand innovation, emphasis on research and development, quality control and range of products,” Jane shares her thought process before taking on the milestone distributorship deal.

Besides ticking all the above boxes, the two noteworthy qualities that Jane has found in her frequent dealings with the Korean Multi-national is a “consistently high level of customer service” and “relentless focus on research and development”.

“I was very impressed in particular with their research and development program and the company’s commitment to quality both in manufacturing and IT development.” 
 
From Inspiration to Aspiration
 
In 2015, Jane travelled to Korea to meet with Vatech’s Senior Management and had the opportunity to visit their headquarters as well as factory for a closer look at their manufacturing processes. She was pleasantly surprised by both the scale and extent of Vatech’s R&D investment – “the R&D folks occupied an entire floor of the whole complex” – that was matched only by their dedication.

“They had a whole division devoted to making sure their products were user friendly before going to market. While I was there, they were trialling a new line of soft and slim sensors, placing them in different patients’ mouths testing for fit and comfort.  Little things like these – the lengths to which they would go to ensure seamless patient acceptance of their products – are what I found inspiring about working with Vatech.”

In the same way, Vatech places a lot of emphasis on product training, and that includes beefing up knowledge of their global distribution partners.  MDS’s technicians have attended training courses in Korea, while the sales team learn the benefits of products in real-life applications.

“Beyond standard product training, Vatech trainers take the trouble to explain specific areas of clinical application for each equipment. Our sales personnel are not only taught the features of the CBCT unit but actually learn how the CBCT images assist with endodontic treatment and finding hidden canals. To know the product intimately helps you to do a better job of recommending it to dentists.”

Meanwhile, their focus on R&D has produced a steady stream of products in recent years. Customer feedback for the entire product range has been overwhelming, Jane adds:

3D CBCT/ 3D Software: “Dentists are very pleased with its image quality and ease of use of the Ez3D-i software for 3D images. It is often the software program that dentists are impressed with that assists their decision to purchase a Vatech CBCT.”

2D OPG: “Has a very small foot print and the Insight model is the most advanced available in the market place. PaX-i Insight has a revolutionary 41 multi layer PANO with depth & 1.9 Rapid Ceph to reduce motion artefacts.”

Intra Oral X-ray: “One of a few on the market that has a 0.4mm focal point which gives a sharper image for increased diagnostic ability.”

Intra Oral Sensor: “We have found their standard and high definition sensors well accepted in the market place and the quality of the digital x-ray image produced is very high.”  “Once a dentist has owned a Vatech sensor, they tend to stay with the brand when looking at replacing or adding to their products. Vatech EzSensor’s are patient-centric with slim design and soft material to reduce patient pain.”

Working together for good cause
Beyond the dental arena, Jane is heartened by Vatech’s support of MDS’s philanthropy work at Youth With A Mission (YWAM) – for which the Queensland company is a corporate sponsor – and YWAM Medical Ship, which provides medical and dental services to Australia’s closest neighbour, Papua New Guinea.

“MDS has been supporting YWAM since 2012 by means of service and donation in kind by providing Biomedical Service to all Medical and Dental equipment on the ship when it comes back into Port in Townsville for its yearly service and refit.”     

In early 2018, MDS donated a Slit Lamp valued at $7,500 to the Ophthalmology department. Together with Vatech Australia and Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA), MDS further equipped the YWAM Ship’s Dental Clinic with their first set of portable X-ray and Intra Oral sensor. 

Potential for market leadership
This year alone, Vatech has released three new CBCTs in Australia. According to Jane, the new range promises shorter processing times, decreased radiation exposure, larger FOVs and enhanced features for sleep apnoea treatments. Even as she reminisces the astute decision made four years ago, Jane remains brimful with expectations for the future of the partnership:

“Based on their quality, service and IT support, I believe that Vatech products are an extremely good choice for Australian dental practices.”

“Given their global presence, and due to the commitment and quality shown at the headquarters in Korea, I feel that with the right support, Vatech has the potential to become a market leader in Australia.”

 

One of Australia’s pioneering CBCT users, Dr Stephen Pak says “yes” to Vatech Green CT’s open-system interoperability and high quality images
 
By Danny Chan
 
An early adopter of dental imaging technology, Dr Stephen Pak was one of the first general dentists to own an OPG more than 10 years ago. Although he has operated a 3D CBCT unit for over 7 years – again, not many people can claim such lengthy experience ­– he switched to the Vatech Green CT about 12 months ago. 
 
As someone who has been operating at the bleeding edge of CBCT innovation for as long as he has, Dr Pak is uniquely positioned to share his user perspectives on the Vatech Green CT, notably the Winner of the “Best of Class” Technology Award 2016 presented by the Cellerent Consulting Group.     
 
Interestingly enough, Dr Pak’s relationship with Vatech innovation was forged prior to owning any of the company’s imaging units. The Principal Dentist at Hillcrest Dental got acquainted with the Vatech brand through its user-friendly software – which he found had performed better than the software that came bundled with the 3D unit he was operating at the time. Pleased with the new discovery, he began transferring DICOM files of the 3D images taken with his x-ray unit into the Vatech software for regular diagnostics and treatment planning.
 
About two years ago, the old unit started experiencing intermittent issues over a 12-month period, invariably racking up high repair costs each time it occurred. When the technician finally admitted that the unit was beyond repair and offered discounted rates for a replacement unit, Dr Pak declined, knowing it was time to move on.
 
Software experience aside, Dr Pak had in the meantime gained more confidence in the Vatech brand from speaking with Korea-based dental colleagues, most of whom were avid Vatech users. Fast forward to present, Dr Pak is now the proud owner of several Vatech products including the Soft Sensor, EzRay Air Portable X-ray and of course, the Vatech Green CT.
 
On the Green CT – which he purchased from a Vatech NSW distributor, Minimax Implant – Dr Pak attests to making an all-round important discovery: “I wanted a unit with better image quality, bigger FOV, easy-to-use hardware and software, with the ability to integrate with other systems such as digital scanners and good after-sales service. Green CT was the one that could satisfy these qualities with a better price.”
 
The experienced general dentist and implantologist mainly uses the Green CT for: Implant surgery planning (including construction of surgical guides); wisdom teeth removal; endodontic evaluation; and airway evaluation (for Obstructive Sleep Apnoea).
 
“It has assisted mainly for surgical guide construction. Implant placement can be determined inside the treatment planning tool on the software and that information can be transferred to the laboratory for the construction of the surgical guide.”
 
“That means I am the one who decides where the implant should be placed, not the technician. The ability to determine adequate quality and quantity of bone also means you can decide on the number and location of implants, which is also helpful for any guided bone regeneration or sinus lift work. In short, the whole treatment plan can be formulated accurately with zero guesswork!”
 
“Since the image you get from the unit is sharp and clear, you always know where you are throughout the process.”
 
One of the Green CT’s many touted features is the small yet powerful pixel sensor that offers high-resolution 3D images with multiple FOV selection – 5 multi FOV sizes ranging from 5×5 to 16x9. Vatech’s digital CMOS sensors promise better resolution with fewer motion artefacts. Its MAGIC PAN feature also helps to create a better panorama image by removing distortion and blurs.
 
Dr Pak reveals that the versatile unit allows him to take sinus, TMJ, airway passage, full upper and lower arches in one CBCT view. “With the aid of 3D scanned models for surgical guide construction, there is no need for digital scanning or impressions.”
 
Setting up, along with actual imaging time, is also quick and easy, the dentist adds: “The unit provides good space between the sensor and the beam head, therefore a patient of any size can be easily set up without interfering the rotation of the head and sensor. It is wheel chair accessible as well.”
 
“It takes my assistants approximately 4.9 - 9 seconds to take a CT and 1.9 seconds for Lateral ceph.”
 
With low radiation dose – Dr Pak estimates it is ½ the dose of conventional CT units ­– the Green CT is safer for patients without compromising image quality. “In terms of health and safety compliance,” he adds, “it takes a few seconds to take the x-ray so exposure time to radiation is very short.”
 
As for the tool that piqued his interest with the Vatech brand, Dr Pak continues to be impressed with the current iteration of the EZ3D-i software:
 
“It is much more user friendly, interactive and easy to navigate. All it takes is half a day’s worth of training to use the software quite comfortably. It has multiple choices to view images, including MPR (Multiple Plane Reconstruction), Section and 3D Pan.”
 
Figuring prominently in the surgery’s daily work, the Sydney dentist says the Green CT serves as a major technological pillar that supports Hillcrest Dental’s professional image.  
 
“With the Green CT, I can comfortably carry out complex cases, knowing with greater certainty, where the problem area lies. Not only does it greatly enhance the level of diagnostics and care for the patient, it achieves higher overall predictability of treatment outcomes, which is no small thing.”
 
Meanwhile, patient acceptance has improved in tandem with the increased clarity of the 3D images and low-dose radiation exposure.
 
“The exposure time is shorter so the patient will not have to keep still for too long or be unnecessarily exposed to radiation. The patients are always amazed to see the 3D image of their skull and are more likely to accept the treatment plan as a result.”
 
These strong features, coupled with an affordable price tag, have led Dr Pak to assert Vatech Green CT as a great practice building tool and investment – more tangibly, he calculates that the machine would pay for itself within three years.
 
Asked for the most significant change the Vatech Green CT has brought to his practice, Dr Pak says it is a toss up between the unit’s interoperability and the quality images it provides:
 
“As opposed to the closed-system type of imaging unit that I used to work with, the Vatech Green CT makes it easy for us to work with and integrate the unit with other products such as digital scanners.”
 
“The Green CT provides relatively clear and comprehensive images that allow my dentists to feel more confident making their diagnosis based upon high quality information.”
 
For further information on Green CT, please contact Vatech Australia (1300 789 454).
 

 
 

Practice Entrepreneur Network (PEN) wants to level the playing field for your autonomous practice.
 
By Danny Chan
 
Dentists may be adept at diagnosing and treating oral conditions but how do they analyse and improve the health of their own business? Unlike in the clinical arena, where they possess the attendent diagnostic training, skills and technology to unravel root causes behind symptoms and complaints, dentists are somewhat clueless when it comes to investigating the soundness of their own business systems. Utilising faulty methods to interpret patient trends and other data, they tend to exaggerate growth and overlook red flags, leading to bad marketing and management decisions that undermine the practice’s viability and stamina.
 
That is what Emanuel Recupero, Founder and CEO of Dental ED, surmised as the independent dental practice’s archilles heel, particularly when they are pitted against the well-oiled machinery of big corporates.
 
Dental ED, a leader in advanced dental clinical training and practice development, is an internationally recognised brand that pioneered web-conferencing for dental study clubs and online courses. With 17 years of experience providing industry-leading training solutions, Emanuel certainly knows a thing or two about helping dentists stay ahead of the learning curve. He recently embarked on a new venture to help optimise their competitiveness in a tech-driven business environment increasingly dominated by dental corporations. 
 
“Most dentists are not trained to run, manage and market a business. During the so-called golden years of dentistry, when competition wasn’t as intense, dentists were able to run lucrative practices simply by focusing on their clinical expertise.”
 
“The dynamics have changed. Today, dentists are on a different playing field. You need to be not only business savvy but also technologically just to survive in the current boom-bust climate where digitally enhanced practice building and management tools are the norm rather than exception.”
 
To level the playing field, Dental ED has joined forces with Momentum Management Programs (MM) to form Practice Entrepreneur Network (PEN). Dr Toni Surace, Director of MM, brings a wealth of coaching and mentoring experience towards crafting relationship-focused management practices that run more efficiently and effectively.
 
The new partnership fuses talents in software development, marketing and tech innovations with a proven practice management program. Through PEN, independent dentists are supported by an extensive array of centralised business and marketing resources – similar to what the big corporates enjoy – without having to lose their autonomy. PEN charges members a flat subscription rate of A$2800/ month.
 
“Unlike corporates or part ownership models, you do not lose your ownership of the practice or independence when you sign up with PEN. You will be joining a network of like-minded dentists while enjoying our support services, including advanced strategic marketing and business management resources.”
 
“There is safety in numbers. Together we can help give your business that competitive edge in today’s changing dental environment.”
 
Even currently adopted digital tools in patient lead capture and conversion, Emanuel warns, are losing relevance and reliability in an increasingly crowded digitised marketplace.
 
“Many dentists are banking on SEO (Search Engine Optimisation), social media and websites to attract and convert patient leads. However, the dental market is getting saturated with Google Adwords and SEO campaigns all targeting the same demographics,” he explains.  
 
“It’s ultimately a numbers game. These methods can only work to a certain point before customer fatigue sets in – and we are already seeing the signs. Even technological tools must constantly evolve to deliver a point of differentiation – that will help put your practice on your prospective customer’s radar.”
 
To stand out in the crowd, Emanuel says PEN member practices can take advantage of specialised electronic marketing tools that are not available on the market. Created by Dental ED’s team of software developers, MiPractice is a portal that lets dentists access a cloud-based suite of services, which he claims, help boosts the conversion of leads and word of mouth prospects by significant numbers. 
 
One of the nifty e-marketing services is a Customer Survey Questionnaire that qualifies leads before using various prompts to convert quality leads into prospects. Another one is a behaviour-driven pop-up ad that is designed to collect customer data from your website visitors in exchange for SMS video packages on specific treatments of interest. MiSmile, a first in dental, is another tool that allows patients to send a snapshot of their teeth through the portal thus providing staff menbers a useful premise for making a follow-up phone call – and opportunity for lead conversion.  
 
Of course, there are also business diagnostic tools that analyse patient trends in relation to internal and external factors that affect the clinic’s performance. It provides a more accurate means of studying and scrutinising available data in order to pin-point problemetic areas.
 
“Once we identify the real causes and effects, we can more confidently devise appropriate counter strategies to resolve or minimise the issues.”
 
“Instead of a shotgun marketing approach that fires indiscriminately – hoping to hit as many targets as possible – we’ll help you to strategise a more targeted approach. This way, you not only cut down on marketing costs, you are using your resources more effectively and efficiently.”
 
The concept, though not revolutionary, still sounds refreshing to a dental entrepreneur struggling with dated marketing strategies and the competitive onslaught. Before it’s too late, it may even throw a lifeline to dental entrepreneurs who don’t yet realise that they are indeed struggling.
 

Core Practice offers a hassle-free, subscription-based PMS solution that’s also great for managing multiple locations.
 
By Danny Chan
 
Running a dental practice is no easy task. It’s even more difficult when you look after multiple clinical operations as a group practice manager. On top of meeting the main objective to provide superior dental care, you’ve got to manage patients, appointments, billing, scheduling, collections, and so forth. Multiply those tasks by the number of practices you oversee, and you can immediately appreciate the value of having a dedicated software tool that can help to streamline your multi-location systems and workflows.
 
Here is where Core Practice, the cloud-based dental software, can help. The cutting edge software program not only integrates all your automated tasks into a centralised hub but also allow easy access at any time, anywhere and on any device. For only $199/month (per location), Core Practice offers a subscription-based model that delivers all the powerful intuitive features you require from a PMS program without any of the hassles.
 
Core Practice’s winning feature has got to be the cloud-based delivery platform upon which it was designed, from the ground up. The major drawback of many current PMS packages stems from their legacy infrastructure. Indeed, there are many limitations to traditional client-based dental PMS software, including: Storage limitations, tedious data backups and hardware glitches. The server-reliant system that traditional software programs operate on also means they are more suitable for individual clinics, rather than for use in group practice settings.
 
Based on Software as a Service (SaaS) infrastructure, Core Practice offers what is known as true cloud computing solution. Its wholly web-based application represents unlimited online storage for unlimited number of users and patients. That is an ideal solution for a group practice manager who does not want to worry about overhauling server hardware or upgrading systems whenever new locations are added or when the customer base expands.
 
Beyond scalable options, the Core Practice software thrives on delivering a streamlined workflow, says Kenny Ha, the company’s Software Engineer. “From the perspective of a group practice owner, ‘centralised efficiency’ is not merely a catchphrase but critical to the daily running of multiple locations. Core Practice gives them the ability to quickly assign, manage and control automated functions from a centralised system. The software also provides holistic view of how the business, practice and dentist are performing for better reporting.”
 
“With Core Practice, the practice owner now has the ability to operate and analyse their multi-practice business with more certainty, and make informed decisions based on hard data instead of blind instinct.”
 
If the individual elements of a group practice are not handled efficiently, the quality of customer service, cash flow, and bottom line will suffer, Kenny warns. The software engineer has worked with enough group practice owners and clinicians to understand the innards of a multi-location dental outfit.
 
Listening to dental owner feedback and taking copious notes on specific complaints of PMS users, Kenny says, was instrumental to the design of the Core Practice software. The intensive research has paid off, as evidenced by positive feedback from initial users involved in the software’s soft launch.
 
The bulk of compliments from group practice managers touched on the following features:
 
Shared database: All practice data integrated into single database enables shared patient treatment notes, etc.
 
Centralised system: Business owners and practice managers no longer need to be on site at each clinic to know what is going on. They are able to manage and run all their clinics from wherever they are, using any device.
 
KPI analytics and business reporting: With a click of a button, business owners can immediately obtain a graphical overview of how their business is performing in real time.
 
Fully integrated online booking system: Appointment book and calendar are updated in real time. No more manual entry or double booking.
 
24/7 access: Dentists can plan their day better with access to patient records from anywhere, any device, anytime.
 
Web-based application: No more hassles of maintaining physical servers, tedious backups, hard disc failures and lack of data security.
 
“The group practice managers and dentists who have used this product are absolutely over the moon!” Kenny enthuses.
 
“All the feature benefits of Core Practice are in addition to the main advantage that comes with operating within a cloud-based environment. If not already, operating in the clouds will soon become an irresistible option – particularly for group practice managers.
 
“Whether for individual clinics or a group practice, Core Practice can help you get started immediately.”
 

Core Practice leverages the Cloud’s flexible infrastructure to better manage your practice
 
By Danny Chan
 
Having a Dental software in Australia is no longer a luxury but a necessity in today’s computerised age of dentistry. Most dental owners cannot imagine running their practices without one. These days, automating timely reminders for following up on patient appointments or quickly accessing a patient’s history are no less perfunctory than sending an email.
 
Despite well-entrenched benefits, running a typical PMS has its share of bugbears: IT hassles of maintaining the physical server; time-consuming hardware/software updates; hardware glitches; tedious data backups; storage limitations; lack of data security; hard disk failures, etc.
 
To circumvent the inherent limitations of server-reliant PMS systems, some dentists are turning to online dental software like Core Practice. Instead of dealing with IT issues, dentists can take advantage of the dental software’s Cloud-based ecosystem to gain greater patient access, better flexibility and increased cost savings.
 
What makes Core Practice a unique proposition in the world of server-bound practice software systems is that it removes the need for expensive set-up costs for both hardware and software. Its Software as a Service (SaaS) model offers genuine flexibility and makes economic sense for all parties concerned.
 
Like your traditional software, Core Practice brings all your practice data together into a single database. However, it eschews the conventional hard-disk format for the cloud infrastructure. A little known but amazing benefit of the cloud-based system is something known as “elastic server scaling”. That basically allows for intuitive expansion of virtual computing resources – storage space, memory and CPU – relative to the usage of the software. That means you only pay for the memory and storage space that you actually utilise, hence lowering unit cost while minimising wastage of unused resources. That’s also why Core Practice is able to pass on the savings to their customers by way of affordable monthly plans.
 
True cloud computing solution
 
With Core Practice, you can rely on the cloud-based system to do all the heavy lifting while you focus your energies on what you do best. While many on-premise vendors also claim to offer cloud applications, the mobile-friendly Core Practice solution was designed from the ground up for the Cloud. There’s no need for painful upgrades because your Core Practice software is always running the latest version. Another added benefit is gaining secure and speedy access to the system anytime from anywhere, on any device.
 
Besides offering a true cloud computing solution, Core Practice allows a host of flexibility:
 
Online bookings: Patients can make online appointments at their own convenience (including nights/ weekends/ public holidays) while receptionist can free up time spent on the phone, allowing more time for handling treatment plan queries.
 
Fully integrated online booking system: Appointment book and calendar are updated in real time. No more manual entry or double booking.
 
Secure and speedy access: Dentists can access patient records from anywhere, any device, anytime.
 
Unlimited & scalable online storage: The virtual space, which resides in the cloud, is unlimited and scalable to your individual needs. Basically, you’ll never have to worry about running out of storage or paying for unused space.
 
Unlimited number of users/ patients: The cloud infrastructure means you are never limited by physical server space.
 
Enterprise-level Secure SSL Encryption: The software adopts industry standard, enterprise-level security, and transport your data safely using AES-256 encrypted channels.
 
24/7 Support: Choose between free business hours phone support, 24/7 helpdesk system or Online Forum.
 
Seamless Integration: Core Practice works with HICAPs for easy payment; MYOB or XERO for all your accounting needs; and a host of communication apps for automated SMS and Email appointments – all sent directly from the software.
 
What do the customers say?
 
The newly launched Core Practice software already enjoys a growing community of users, and this is what they have to say about their user experience:
 
Kelly Hunt, Practice Manager, No Gaps Dental (Beverly Hills, Liverpool, Cabramatta):
 
“Core Practice is so much more flexible, allowing me to get my work done from wherever I am. Thanks to the electronic claiming and straightforward payment flow, my staff rarely make payment errors, which has given me more time to do my work.”
 
Dr Thiago De Araujo, Dentist, No Gaps Dental (Bondi, Brookvale):
 
“With Core Practice, I have the flexibility to access the system from wherever I am, whenever I need to. The customization of notes allows me to create treatment notes faster than ever, meaning I can devote more time to my patient's care. The automatic SMS appointment reminders are convenient. My patients can even reply to the text message to confirm their appointment. This used to be a time-consuming task, but thanks to Core Practice, my staff have so much more time to complete their daily tasks.”
 
For more information on Core Practice, call 1800 317 008 or visit www.corepractice.com.au
 

 
 

Invisalign completes holistic offering of Sydney’s upscale cosmetic dental surgery

By Danny Chan

Dr Angelo Lazaris runs a solo practice that not only specialises in cosmetic dentistry, but one that is committed to raising its awareness and clinical standards. While his familiar mug continues to grace many high profile publications and TV programs, lending an authoritative voice to public discussions on the subject, Dr Lazaris has been working tirelessly to raise the bar of cosmetic dentistry by introducing a number of innovations and techniques seldom gathered under the same specialty roof.

He is the featured cosmetic dental surgeon in a number of publications including Cosmopolitan, Vogue and The Sydney Morning Herald. Recent television appearances include the Nine Network’s Body Work program, Mornings with Kerrie-Anne and on Fox 8’s Australia’s Next Top Model. Dr Lazaris is also the resident cosmetic dental surgeon on Ninemsn’s Ask the Experts advisory panel and acts as a cosmetic dental advisor for many of Australia’s leading fashion magazines.

His academic credentials are no less impressive. Since earning his Bachelor of Dental Surgery degree with Honours in 1991 from the University of Sydney, Dr Lazaris has completed a number of post-graduate courses and educational programs, both in Australia and overseas.

In 2011, Dr Lazaris enrolled in the prestigious Kings College London Dental School’s Post Graduate Masters in Aesthetic Dentistry program. Upon completing the course, he will be amongst the first dentists in the world with this formal qualification.

Dr Lazaris’ extensive training and academic background in the fields of Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Implants and Complex Restorative Dentistry, forms the backbone of his highly integrated practice.

Indeed, his unique yet holistic approach to dental care can be seen writ large on the range of services he provides: digital smile design, porcelain veneers, CEREC CAD/CAM restorations, biomimetic dentistry, the all on four immediate implant technique, 3D CAT SCAN implant surgical planning, Btx and dermal filler treatments and Invisalign clear aligners.

Dr Lazaris is also actively involved in the development of computer-generated planning and reconstruction software and digital photographic techniques for enhancing lab communication.

Why I use Invisalign
​
Dr Lazaris’ namesake upmarket practice, located on York Street in Sydney’s CBD, has a focus on aesthetically driven restorative and reconstructive procedures. While providing all forms of general and restorative dentistry, the practice’s main area of interest is aesthetic rehabilitation, including: bonded porcelain veneers, implant rehabilitation, complex reconstructions – and more recently, orthodontic treatment with the Invisalign system.
​
In 2011, the cosmetic dentist was awarded the status of Invisalign Platinum Elite Provider, cementing his position as one of Sydney’s most prolific and experienced Invisalign specialists.

Saying that he treats almost all of his orthodontic patients with the Invisalign system, Dr Lazaris does not offer fixed orthodontics in his practice – preferring to refer those cases beyond the scope of Invisalign to his orthodontist.
 
“It doesn’t suit my practice model to have inventory on hand for fixed orthodontics when I am seeing its indications decrease over time.
 
“As the Invisalign product has evolved and my experience levels increase, I am finding that less and less cases need to be referred.”
 
The upwardly mobile cosmetic surgeon started using Invisalign in 2005, primarily as a pre-restorative protocol for misaligned teeth. Citing an earlier motivation for using the system “to eliminate aggressive preparation for (his) bonded restorations and to gain complete control of tooth positioning”, he found the Invisalign treatment soon gained him access to a completely new market of patients who “would otherwise be forced to choose between fixed orthodontics, aggressive preparation or compromised aesthetic outcomes.”
 
On the Invisalign system benefits, Dr Lazaris opines: “It is immensely gratifying to be able to deliver uncompromised aesthetic treatments in a completely predictable and minimally-invasive manner.
 
“I am finding that there is a significant increase in Invisalign case acceptance for alignment amongst my patients, allowing me to present and perform treatments that are highly aesthetic and biologically sound.”
 
Dr Lazaris also merits the use of Invisalign’s proprietary software ClinCheck®, a treatment planning tool that enables an orthodontist to visualise his or her proposed treatment prior to delivering the first aligner.  In addition to detailed patient education and reinforcement, he believes careful planning with the ClinCheck® software is key to a predictable treatment outcome.
 
Patient comfort is one area where Invisalign comes into its own, Dr Lazaris emphasizes:
 
“It is unparalleled in terms of patient comfort when compared to fixed brackets, and with the introduction of the SmartTrackTM aligner material, patients are finding Invisalign to be incredibly comfortable, and that in turn influences compliance and treatment success.”
 
SmartTrack is Invisalign’s new, highly elastic proprietary aligner material that delivers gentle, more constant force while improving control of tooth movements with Invisalign clear aligner treatment.
 
Aligner for all occasions
For a practice that caters to aesthetically demanding patients – who do not appreciate invasive treatments that may interfere with their social or professional lives –Invisalign’s clear aligners complete the practice’s lifestyle-oriented disposition.
 
“Certainly the transitional phases of tooth alignment that can be prolonged over several months would not be acceptable if it involved fixed orthodontics. Invisalign is uniquely placed to deliver a highly aesthetic solution for patients who would otherwise reject treatment,” Dr Lazaris says emphatically.
 
“For patients, overwhelmingly the biggest advantage is that orthodontic alignment becomes a viable treatment alternative and no longer compromises professional or social discourse.”
 
As his practice continues to grow at 15-20% p.a, Dr Lazaris finds that Invisalign treatment has outperformed all other aspects of treatment in terms of practice growth and profitability. Recommending Invisalign to friends and peers as a great practice builder, the dentist says:
 
“Quite simply, it has changed the way I plan and treat a high percentage of cases. It has made my professional life more gratifying.”

Veraviewepocs 3D is yet another gem in Morita’s string of pioneering accomplishments
 
By Danny Chan
 
Since its inception in 1916, Japanese equipment manufacturer Morita has not failed to capture our imagination with one groundbreaking innovation after another. In 1927, the company manufactured Unit A, known as the first dental treatment unit ever made in Japan. In 1964, it developed the revolutionary Spaceline, credited as the world’s first dental unit that allows patients to lie on their backs while dentists remain seated during treatment. In 1991, Morita gave us Root ZX, an epoch-making root canal measurement device.
 
Morita’s astounding ability to adapt in a fast-changing, technology-driven industry finds its roots in time-tested R&D philosophy, where an utter devotion to quality in product design and development trumps eagerness to flood the marketplace with standard hardware.
 
With the introduction of Veraviewepocs in 1997, Morita solidified its position in the dental diagnostic equipment market. Although the company’s entry into this sector began as early as 1967 with the world-renowned “Panex-E” — Morita’s first panoramic X-ray device designed for imaging the entire jawbone region while emitting extremely low radiation — the advent of Veraviewepocs marked the manufacturer’s growing confidence in offering an X-ray unit at the bleeding edge of turnkey imaging technology.
 
The Veraviewepocs brand also represents evolving technology; first unveiling its digital version in 1998 incorporating a PC intra-clinic LAN system (and the “Dixel” LAN systemfor digital dental X-ray images), then in 2001, adding notches to its digital capacity with caphalometric function in a high-speed (6 seconds) scanning model.  
 
Continuing this evolution into the 21st Century is Veraviewepocs 3D, a cost-effective model that advances class-leading clarity ideal for endodontics, general dentistry and periodontics. Offering digital 3D, panoramic, and cephalometric imaging options — no cassette change required — this model features built-in sensors for all image types, designed to save time and protect the hardware. Providing Ø 40 x H 40 mm and Ø 40 x H 80 mm 3D fields of view, 3De is suitable for over 90% of all clinical cases requiring 3D analysis. In addition, it offers a ‘true’ panoramic image unlike other devices that digitally reconstruct a 3D image.
 
Users choose from a variety of imaging options via interchangeable cassettes. The multi-function cassette feature enables both panoramic and 3D images to be taken without changing the cassette.  Contrast-rich images of both hard and soft tissue, with minimal artifacts and zero distortion, permits a highly detailed assessment — images are captured in super-high resolution (125 μm voxel). The future-proof product allows upgrade from a 2D to 3D model at a later date.
 
 
Veraviewepocs 3D does all the work
 
For Dr Matthew Lee, principal dentist at Sydney-based Worldciti Dental, the Veraviewepocs 3D is simply “an excellent device that makes life easier”. Having spent 17 years in private practice, Lee keenly understands the benefits of taking patient X-rays in-house on a multi-purpose unit that offers 3D images of region, panoramic and cephalometric views.
 
“Besides the convenience factor, I think one advantage of having an X-ray machine in the surgery is the ability to obtain the appropriate type of images for each individual case in a speedy and efficient manner,” Lee says.
 
“While the quality of images allows for accurate assessment, the 3D imaging capabilities virtually eliminates guesswork.”
 
Lee says the Veraviewepocs compares favorably with both the Sirona digital OPG, lateral Ceph and i-CAT units that he used in the past. “Having used the Veraviewepocs for 9 months, I can qualify that the images it delivers are of higher quality, and offers more accurate diagnosis.”
 
As with any high-end X-ray unit, superb image accuracy and fidelity, easy positioning and image-manipulation as well as versatile image processing are key components around which current imaging technology revolves. The Veraviewepocs 3D brings to bear these attributes in an intelligent package.
 
The integrated sensor for 3D Images and panoramic radiographs enables effortless positioning by panoramic graphic display. Before taking a 3D image exposure, the instrument releases a high resolution panoramic exposure to target the region of interest on the PC monitor.The C-arm then automatically moves into the optimum patient position to get a 3D image centered on the region of interest. This process produces images with a high degree of reproducibility.
 
The Veraviewepocs offers three options for accurate 3D positioning: Bi-directional scout, 5 positioning laser beams, or Morita’s unique automatic re-positioning using the high resolution panoramic as a scout image.
 
“Taking a 3D image is as simple as clicking on the desired position on the panoramic view.”
 
Lee beams: “The unit automatically adjusts to get the right exposure for the 3D image.”
 
“Absolute must” for implant treatment
 
Using the X-ray equipment mainly for implant, surgical extraction and orthodontic cases, Lee finds the Veraviewepocs 3De particularly suited for endodontic cases in revealing a problemetic root or canal. “It is also helpful in assessing the size and position of the abscess and abnormality.”
 
 “As for implant procedures,” he emphasizes, “I believe that 3D imaging is an absolute must. For example, the Ø 40 x H 80 mm images are useful in determining the relationship of opposing teeth for dental implant planning.”
 
The fully digital system, says Dr. Lee, also simplifies image processing for 3D images with intelligent volume rendering and real-time reslice
 
“It helps that you are able to view 3D images on any computer or export them to third-party software for more specialized processing.”
 
Newly improved features include: Dose reduction, and a high-definition (HD) cephalometric update. Veraviewepocs 3D, and all of Morita’s 3D units, now come automatically equipped with a new dose reduction feature for increased patient protection. Across all 3D fields of view, dosage has been reduced 30% to 40%. By optimising the intensity of the X-rays, 3D is able to greatly decrease the overall level of emissions.
 
Morita’s latest HD update has enhanced the cephalometric image quality. The result is high definition, cephalometric images with amazing clarity and soft tissue display. This new feature, also available in Veraviewepocs 2D, makes it easier to plot key points for cephalometric measurements.
 
With a price point under A$90,000 and considering its marquee label standing, Morita’s 3D imaging solutions are certainly poised for the competition. As most customers would readily testify, purchase consideration for a Morita product often boils down to the company’s venerated brandname. Of course, a smaller price tag doesn’t hurt either. 
 
Asked why he picked the Veraviewepocs 3D, Dr Lee typifies: “I simply trust Morita as a reliable brand that delivers excellent quality. It’s also a great investment.”