KODAK 9000 3D

The system allows capture of clear, detailed, anatomically correct 3D images in seconds. Comprehensive imaging software then enables rapid onscreen access of both 2D and 3D images; the user selects the desired program, and the unit automatically uses the correct sensor.

According to PracticeWorks, high-resolution images for each tooth let the clinician view even the smallest details from all angles and slices, while extended field-of-view capabilities enable capture of the entire mandibular or maxillary arch. “The easyto- use interface integrates all needed information.”

Eleven dentists participated in this Dental Product Shopper evaluation of the KODAK 9000 3D, rating such features as ease of use, image quality, and aid in treatment planning.

Ease of Use

Ease of use (image capture) of the KODAK 9000 3D was rated as excellent by 8 evaluators and as very good to good by 3. Comments included “almost as easy as panoramic,” “simple to operate—perfect images each time,” and “after a short learning curve, capture is extremely consistent.” One evaluator said the beam-positioning display “can be confusing when it shows only the mandible—always displays on the left, even when the capture is on the right.”

When asked about the software’s ease of use and integration, 7 evaluators rated it as excellent and 4 rated it as very good or good. The dentist who called it “very intuitive” needed “only 1 hour of training.” One evaluator called the sliding controls (gray scale and brightness) “difficult to titrate.”

System Speed

Comments about the KODAK 9000 3D’s speed, rated as excellent by 7 evaluators and as very good or good by 4, included “after computer upgrading, image construction takes about 10 seconds,” and “it sometimes takes too long to get the machine at the correct height with the puck where you want it.” Another dentist said, “The highest-resolution scans can take a long time to load (probably because of large DICOM files).”

Image Quality

The KODAK 9000 3D’s image quality and diagnostic capability was rated as excellent by 6 evaluators and as very good or good by 5. Comments included, “superb,” “3D lets you see so much you previously missed. The 2D pan is the crispest I’ve seen and the CBCT is beautiful,” and, “You can see the pulps of teeth!” One evaluator reported “some scatter from soft tissue,” and another said, “It’s hard to calibrate the image and accurately assess bone levels.” One dentist said, “I wish I could trace soft tissue captured in the ceph itself, versus in profile.”

Ten dentists rated anatomical accuracy— 6 as excellent and 4 as very good. One dentist noted that diagnostic decisions are “reached more efficiently because of anatomic accuracy.”

Efficiency and Treatment Planning

Both productivity/efficiency and the KODAK 9000 3D’s ability to aid in treatment planning (increased visibility/clarity) were rated as excellent by 10 evaluators and as very good by 1. One dentist said, “We forward the images to referring dentists electronically.” Evaluators called the system “great for impactions and useful in craniofacial patients,” and “beyond what I even imagined.” One dentist said, “With 3D, you know where the implant needs to go, and where that nerve and third molar are.”

Overall Satisfaction

All 11 evaluators said they would definitely recommend the KODAK 9000 3D to colleagues. Overall satisfaction was rated as excellent by 9 evaluators and as very good by 2, with comments including, “staff can use it unsupervised,” and “outstanding value for a 2D pan and CBCT in one.” Patient comfort, described by 1 dentist as “no different from normal panoramic,” was rated as excellent by all 11.