CBVT Scans: Do I Need Software to Read These?

Normally when you send a patient for a scan the service provider will supply the software including simplant if you so require.

Dear Dr. B., For reading CBVT, only having Java software is enough. the Ram of your computer should be more than 1 GHz, as well. Simplant or NobleGuide software are only required when you are going to have the sophisticated surgical guide to follow the company recommendation. good luck

When you refer your patient for a CT_Scan, ask for a CD-ROM with the DICOM data. It will come with a basic DICOM viewer, which, I find very hard to navigate trough. For what it's worth, I don't use a DICOM viewer. There is no capability to do cross-sectionals on the panoramic curve of your interest...just a basic multiplanar viewer. This should answer your first question. Usually CBCT have a more elaborate viewer (Newtom, I-Cat, Hitachi). In my humble opinion, the E-woo and Terarecon have the best, off the shelf, implant planning capability. Simplant conversion is great. Nobelguide is a different tool (I guess it's "OK" if you want to use their Nobelguide computer based implant surgical guide, not for anything else). I hope it helps

Easiest way: Download iCAT Vision from the Imaging Sciences website. ("Download Software" under the "Customer Service" heading.)http://www.imagingsciences.com/downloads.htm It is free to use and very usable. Also download the 3dVR software. It has some useful functions. Run 3dVR one time, then shut it down. iCAT Vision will be able to locate it as a 'Plug-in." When installing iCAT Vision, answer 'yes' to install the updated version (it's an installation glitch, but otherwise it will ask you every time you run it.) I provide both on each disk that I make for use by other offices. If you have more questions, ask here. I'll post my e-mail and we can get into more detail.

Oh, I forgot. Get the iCAT Transfer software. You'll need it to convert standard DICOM data into iCAT Vision data. All it really does is create a file folder structure and delete a standard DICOM header file. I use some other 3D reconstruction software too; some will analyse and easily import the files without the DICOM header file.

hey, the program looks good on what i can see from the web, but the iccattransfer program asks for a response key? i don't have an icat?? so.. should i email them anyway?

Dr Dr. B, Not quite so easy to answer this question as it depends entirely on what you want to do with the data. Your scan will be exported from your scanning centre in DICOM (sometimes known as DIACOM) format. This stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. Your scanning centre should be able to supply something to read this format but if not, there are many FREE software downloads available if you Google DICOM software. If you want to actually place implants or draw a nerve on your scan, then you might need a dedicated implant planning software - there are many, but they usually come at a price. I hope that helps but my main advice is to chat to your scanning centre. Kind Regards, Bill Schaeffer

Had an Accu-i-Tomo at UoP Dugoni and it came with a patient viewer that is slam dunk to use. A child could do it. You can't reformat with it, but you sure can show the images from the study, both pano and slices, and make measurements. BTW, the Accu-i-Tomo images are very clear and 1:1.

Some imaging providers include a DICOM viewer with their scans. Facial Imaging Mobile, a Mobile CT Scan provider in the New York City area, gives you the choice of Simplant View or NNT Viewer at no charge with the scan. The scans are done in a mobile environment, at your office. If you have Simplant or NobelGuide you receive your scan along with the free viewer, a radiology report, intra oral pictures all within a day or two of the scan being done. Very nice, high quality service. No need to wait for a radiology center appointment or send to another dentist for a scan. Not to mention reduced exposure to patient vs. axial slice machines.

All the comments here are correct, just keep in mind that once an image has been acquired a radiologists must read it! That’s not a suggestion but it's the law. Just taking g an images and viewing it is not enough, some devices are privet tagged and cant not be viewed by any other software but it's own. Others apply filter that reduce noises and artifacts that will not be removed by any other software, and should you filter it your self well good luck knowing when that you haven’t removed bone in the process! Have fun

There is FREE planning software available. The Simplant viewer only allows you to look at the scan but cannot add IAN or place implants. Blue Sky Plan allows full functionality. It is pretty sophisticated software. They provide online and live tutorals to learn how to use it. Once you get the hang of it, you'll never go back to planning on film! Hope it helps, rob

I have worked in a dental imaging centre for 2 years and we used to deñover the report and a viewer, whatever the machine was (Icat, MiniCat, Newtom, Galileos) the viewer was sent to the Dr, but it is important to know that the viewer doesn´t let you do many things. I will try Blue Sky Plan I am curious about it. Thanks Fiorella