Cone Beam CT + X-Navigation/X-Guide
X-Navigation/X-Guide is compatible and often used with Cone Beam CT systems. Cone Beam CT is a popular diagnostic tool that involves moving a cone shaped x-ray beam around the patient, which creates a high resolution, clear 3D images of the oral and facial structures. Cone Beam CT is one of the most effective methods for capturing images that provide periodontists with a view of the patient’s nerves, bone, teeth, soft tissues, airway and nerve pathways in one single scan. The information gathered from these images is a critical component in accurately diagnosing and effectively treating a range of oral health issues.
For patients scheduled for a bone graft or dental implant procedure, the Cone Beam CT scan provides a clear and undistorted view of the bone, nerves, sinuses, soft tissue, teeth, as well as other structures. Using the high-quality 3D images collected from Cone Beam CT and advanced navigation technology, X-Navigation/X-Guide Dynamic then provides turn-by-turn guidance during live surgery, improving the accuracy and ability of your periodontist to deliver exact implant placement and achieve the optimal angle, depth, and position of the implant, resulting in an aesthetically pleasing and optimally functional outcome.
The first step in the X-Navigation/X-Guide process is to make the X-Clip impression. This is a simple and quick process (generally five minutes or under) that involves warming the X-Clip with water to soften it, then pressing the X-Clip to form a two or three tooth impression. Once the impression is made, the X-Clip is removed and placed in an ice bath to harden.
Once the clip has hardened, the X-Clip is placed on the patient, and Cone Beam CT scans are taken. Next, the optimal location for the placement of the dental implant is determined using X-Navigation/X-Guide planning software, which includes nerve visualization, virtual teeth, and parallel planning tools. Once the optimal location for the dental implant has been determined, we will calibrate the Patient Tracker and Handpiece Tracker to synch for real-time guidance during the procedure. Once the calibration is complete, the patient is given a general anesthetic or dental sedation, and once they are comfortable, these trackers are placed on the patient’s teeth. Once in place, we will calculate drill bit length by touching the drill on the Go-Plate, then surrounding anatomy to ensure the position. Following this, the implant procedure is performed, with X-Navigation/X-Guide providing turn-by-turn guidance every step of the way.
