State of the Art Technology

Bringing the latest in orthodontic technology to Northern Nevada

What is the i-CAT Scanner?

Our i-CAT scanner allows us to do so much more than we ever thought possible with a piece of technology. The i-CAT 3D CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) scanner is a large machine that takes a 3D scan of your entire jaw. It’s able to create a replica of your skeletal, dental, and facial anatomy including the bones, jaws, and airway to show how they relate to your teeth and orthodontic treatment. Not only does this 3D image allow our team to get a comprehensive look at the physical structure of your mouth, but it also gives us a better opportunity to provide the best plan of treatment. As one of the only orthodontic practices in Reno to utilize this technology, {b} Ortho is excited to be able to give their patients the best experience possible with some of the most advanced equipment available.

See how our Reno, NV orthodontics office uses i-CAT technology and their scanner to provide optimal orthodontic solutions and treatment plans!

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How We Use the i-CAT Scanner

Imagine you’re looking at a flat paper map of the world, and beside it is a globe of the earth. Looking at the map alone doesn’t show some of Earth’s key characteristics, such as being round, but the globe is able to show this essential feature. Clearly, the globe provides a more accurate and representational perspective than the flattened out map. Similarly, the i-CAT scanner takes a 3D image of your skull, jaws and teeth which produces more accurate and detailed results than that of a flat, 2D image.

To start your orthodontic plan of treatment, we’ll first need to get a good idea of what the structure of your skull, jaw and teeth are like. So, we’ll start your first orthodontic appointment by taking some scans of your facial structures. This includes the i-CAT scanner, which produces a complete 3D image, as well as the iTero scanner to develop a 3D impression of your teeth and gums. Together, these scans allow our team to see all of your physical dental structures and gives the doctor everything he needs to make an accurate diagnosis and provide the best plan of action. how we use i-CAT technology and their scanner to provide optimal orthodontic solutions and treatment plans!

Benefits of the i-CAT Scanner

The i-CAT scanner provides many advantages over traditional 2D scans. For example, the 3D scan taken by the i-CAT scanner allows you to fully see all the characteristics of your mouth, jaw, and teeth so that your doctor can provide a comprehensive solution that addresses each issue you may be experiencing. Other benefits include:

• Peace of mind for our patients. Because we use the scanner at the initial appointment, you’ll get the answers you’ve been waiting for almost immediately.
• The i-CAT scanner works quickly and efficiently, producing a 3D image before your appointment is over.
• Provides an easier and more comfortable experience for our patients. Most scans make patients, especially younger patients, feel uncomfortable and uneasy. However, the i-CAT scanner doesn’t involve poking and prodding in the mouth. Instead, patients get to sit in a comfortable chair and simply place their chin in an adjustable chin rest.
• Precise and accurate results. The 3D image taken by the scanner doesn’t just give a better representation of the facial structures, but it also provides more precise images allowing you to see minuscule details that could have otherwise gone unnoticed.
• Saves time. The i-CAT scanner is able to produce an image almost immediately, which gives your doctor all the information you need to make a decision about treatment in the first appointment. This saves you the time of coming back for more consultation appointments and gets the process for treatment moving much quicker

What is the iTero Scanner?

The iTero scanner is a compact, hand-held wand that digitally captures the structure of your teeth and gums using the latest optical technology. This digital device eliminates the need for using traditional putty trays that are goopy and end up leaving you feeling uncomfortable and stifled. So how does it work? First, your mouth is scanned with a radiation-free laser and, in as little as two to three minutes, the laser renders a digitally perfect, 3D impression of your teeth and soft tissue structures. Once your dentist begins the scanning process, it can be stopped and started as many times as necessary. Through digital software, you’ll then be able to follow the progress of the scans, including a 3D model of your teeth on our computer screen.

The iTero scanner can be used for any restorative treatment including crowns, veneers, inlays/onlays, bridges, and implants, as well as orthodontic treatments like Invisalign®.

How We Use the iTero Scanner

The iTero scanner is a fully digital computer and camera that takes thousands of pictures per second to create and reconstruct a digital 3-dimensional image of the patient’s tooth anatomy, bite, and jaw relationship in order to diagnose and plan the most efficient type of orthodontic treatment. This 3D scan takes the place of those old school putty impressions, so there is no more gagging or patient discomfort and takes under 2 minutes to complete. We also use it for patient chair side visual education and to better understand the patient’s main concern for seeking orthodontic treatment. From these digital scans, we can then make all of our orthodontic appliances such as retainers, bleaching trays, Invisalign® aligners and more.

Because we love our iTero scanner so much, we’ve actually named it! Our scanner is named Bridget as a play on the word “digit”.

Benefits of the iTero Scanner

There are several benefits to using the iTero scanner that may just change the way you feel about visiting your orthodontist. The iTero scanner allows us to quickly and efficiently take an accurate impression of your mouth so that we can create the best plan of treatment for you. While other impression methods tend to be uncomfortable and time-consuming, the iTero scanner is fast, simple and efficient. Other benefits of the iTero Scanner include:

• Accurate and precise readings which provide better fitting orthodontic appliances
• Greater education and understanding of your concerns which allow us to provide you with a more comprehensive treatment plan
• Ability to use the impressions to create several orthodontic appliances for you
• Impressions and molds won’t need to be mailed in for recreation which means you get your orthodontic appliances sooner
• Comfortable application and testing

Get started with {b} Ortho today! We’ll find the perfect solution for your smile. Reach out to us today for your complimentary consultation with Dr. B!