Choosing a 3D Cone Beam Dental System for a Startup Practice

Congratulations on your big next step in your dental career! Opening a start-up is a big challenge but is a potentially lucrative investment in your future. It also, of course, comes with major considerations - finances, staffing/recruiting, patients, service offerings, construction, legal, technology and equipment, and the list goes on.

With so much on your plate, how can you find balance and make sure you’re making the right decisions for your practice?

Many doctors getting ready to open a start-up practice seek advice from colleagues, attend dental conferences and CE courses, listen to podcasts (such as The Making Of a Dental Start-up), ask financial advisors, and do their research online to become educated on the ins and outs of building their own dental business.

When preparing for your new practice, you’ll be looking for what we call the 5 B’s needed for a dental start-up:

• Banker
• Broker
• Broadcaster
• Bean Counter
• Builder

For more about each of these, check out our full article: The 5 B's of a Dental Start-Up: Your Roadmap to Success.

And, since you’re here, we’ll tell you a little bit about ourselves too. We’re Renew Digital, the market leaders in certified pre-owned dental imaging. We’re here to help you with one big piece of the equation - one of the most significant investments you’ll make for your start-up: imaging equipment.

With over 10 years in business, we’ve helped thousands of dental and specialty practices find affordable 3D imaging as well as 2D panoramic and pan/ceph, and, now, intraoral scanners.

We have a wide inventory of imaging equipment from the brands doctors trust most. We also help our customers with installation, warranties, and 5-star customer service, all included with your purchase price - so you have peace of mind you’ll be up and running for the long term.

Today, we’re going to help you look for dental imaging equipment, so you can be sure you’ve got the RIGHT fit for your start-up.

Why a 3D Cone Beam Dental System for a Start-Up?

We know it’s important to be confident that you’ve maximized the value you’re getting from your equipment – and it suits your practice’s long-term needs. With this, many doctors looking to start fresh with a start-up evaluate technology based on potential ROI, and how quickly it may take to recoup the investment cost.

There are three main ways a dental practice can increase revenue:

1. Lower overhead
2. Increase efficiency
3. Broaden procedural codes that you bill for

Owning a dental CBCT system is a proven formula for helping boost revenue by increasing the specialty procedures and service offerings you keep in-house. And, in some cases, doctors accomplish this by incorporating an OMS, Periodontist, Endodontist or Orthodontist that travels in and out of their office on a routine basis - retaining more patients rather than referring out cases to a 3rd party specialist.

Whether you buy new or used, most doctors who truly incorporate and maximize the benefits of their 3D cone beam dental system see returns on their investment quickly.

Buying a used CBCT system simply helps you get there even faster with a lower investment (often 30-50% off new list prices), while still delivering the high-quality, advanced technology of 3D imaging.

For more information on how to get over the hurdle of incorporating the new technology of 3D cone beam dental system in your office and then maximizing the benefits of CBCT, check out our complete article: I Just Invested in Cone Beam… Now What?

How to Shop for 3D Cone Beam Dental Systems - What to Look for

We’ve spoken with many doctors planning their start-up and the general consensus when shopping for CBCT is what they want: cost-effectiveness, reliability, and high-quality images.

Of course, this has two components. You want a quality machine (which meets your imaging needs) and you need a reputable dealer who can provide you with training, service, and warranty.

So, what should you be looking for in both your machine as well as your dealer?

When it comes to your CBCT system, most doctors are looking to maximize their image quality to their needs and budget. When you work with most dealers, they’ll start your purchase plan based on your desired field of view or FOV. FOV tells you how much anatomy you’ll capture on each scan. Typically, the larger the FOV, the greater the cost. And, keep in mind that most larger FOV options can be collimated down to reduce radiation to only the clinical zone of interest.

Next, you’ll be looking at periphery features to compare CBCT options. This comes down to comfort settings (both for your patients and staff), ease-of-use, low dose settings and more. You may choose a brand you’re already familiar with, or select based upon advice from a colleague or the guidance of a dealer.

Now, what should you expect from your dealer?

Here, you’re looking for a partner you can trust for the long-term. Speak to a sales representative and inquire about the support and warranty programs. Read online reviews from other dental professionals.

Learn what’s covered with your purchase, and what’s not, so you can feel confident with your purchase. Sometimes, you may also need to consider your location, because some providers won’t have coverage in your area.

And also, keep in mind that purchasing a used dental X-ray system may enable you to afford a 3D dental cone beam with similar features and functionality than purchasing a brand new system.

By saving money on equipment, you can invest more of your finances in other areas. And, as you’ve likely seen so far, there are plenty of areas that need attention!

In-Demand CBCT Brands & Models

The next step in choosing your equipment is narrowing down your options. This is largely going to depend on your service offerings, such as if you’ll require a ceph, or need a larger FOV for more complex treatments. If you already have experience with imaging equipment, you may already know most leading imaging manufacturers offer a variety of options to meet the needs of most dental practices.

From discussions we’ve had with doctors, the below brands are generally regarded as the best quality products and will be suitable for most imaging needs.

PLANMECA: Award-winning Planmeca CBCT systems deliver consistent, high-quality images. They are also recognized for their ease of use and dependability, as well as their desirable extraoral bitewing feature.

Here are a few leading Planmeca ProMax models to consider (each of which can be configured with a cephalometric attachment):

• Mid FOV CBCT: Planmeca ProMax 3D Classic
• Large FOV CBCT: Planmeca ProMax 3D Mid

DENTSPLY SIRONA: Among doctors we speak with, Sirona CBCT machines are highly regarded for quality equipment as well as customer service. Like Planmeca, this brand manufactures nearly any configuration possible .

Their 3D imaging equipment is helpful in observing soft tissues and nerve pathways as well as developing more accurate treatment plans. And their imaging technology integrates seamlessly with their CAD/CAM systems for a comprehensive digital dentistry workflow.

Well-known Sirona Orthophos models include several cone beam systems, which include dedicated panoramic X-rays and medium field of view cone beam images. Here are a few leading Sirona Orthophos models for OMS practices:

• Mid FOV CBCT: Sirona Orthophos XG3D
• Mid-to-large FOV CBCT: Sirona Orthophos SL 3D

CARESTREAM: Carestream Dental is a trusted brand in the dental industry. Their 3D dental technology allows you to capture clear axial and sagittal images for oral and maxillofacial surgery and many other applications. Carestream offers 3D volumes from focused field of view (5 x 3.75 cm) up to large field of view (17 x 13.5 cm). ere are a few of Carestream’s leading models:

• Mid FOV CBCT: Carestream CS 8100 3D & Carestream CS 9300 3D Select
• Large FOV CBCT: Carestream CS 9300 3D Premium

VATECH: Vatech is a global leader in dental imaging technology, with a strong focus on CBCT. Vatech CBCT models are popular among doctors because of their high-resolution 3D images, making them ideal for complex surgical cases and implant planning.

Their 3D cone beam systems are available in a variety of field of view sizes, giving you the best flexibility in clinical use. Here are a few of their most popular models (all of which can be installed with or without a ceph attachment):

• Mid FOV CBCT: Vatech PaX-i 3D & Vatech PaX-i3D Smart
• Large FOV CBCT: Vatech PaX-i Green

DEXIS brands (previously KaVo Kerr): KaVo, prior to DEXIS, offered several legacy brands from world-renowned manufacturers, including i-CAT, Gendex and Instrumentarium.

Here’s a little about each brand and their popular models among oral and facial surgeons:

• The i-CAT brand is known for their unique 3-in-1 capability and seated, compact design. The i-CAT FLX v17 and i-CAT Next Generation, the current and previous generation models (respectively) are capable of taking high-quality 2D panoramic and cephalometric volumes in addition to mid-to-large field of view (FOV) 3D CBCT images, all in one scan.
• Gendex, Instrumentarium and KaVo machines also come from reputable manufacturers. With these brands, you can find 2D and 3D imaging devices, which are well-known in the industry for producing high-quality images. Because they are legacy brands, you can find these for purchase as refurbished models - typically making them more affordable while not sacrificing quality. Our recommendations for mid FOV CBCT from these brands include: KaVo OP 3D, Gendex GXDP 700 3D, Instrumentarium OP 300 3D.

Save 30% to 50% Off 3D Cone Beam Dental Systems Here

Any questions? We’re here to help. You have a lot on your plate and we know getting ready to open your start-up takes considerable time and resources. Let us help you by providing a 5-star experience from start to finish, starting with our experienced Regional Sales Representatives, and continuing through installation of your equipment and your warranty period.

Plus, pick up the phone and call our Customer Help Desk anytime for assistance! There’s a reason over 300 customers have left us 5-star reviews on Google.

We offer mid FOV CBCT starting at $32,995, saving our customers 30-50% off new list prices on 3D cone beam dental systems.

What are you waiting for? There’s never been a better time to find affordable dental imaging equipment and start making that investment to improve your profitability. Give us a call, we’ll connect you to your dedicated sales rep at (888) 246-5611, or complete an online form here.