What to Consider When Purchasing an Intraoral Scanner: A Guide to Choosing the Best Fit for Your Practice
Investing in an intraoral scanner can transform your dental practice, improving efficiency, patient experience, and clinical outcomes. But with so many options on the market, how do you choose the right scanner for your needs? Let’s explore the key factors to consider and how each factor can impact your decision.
Are There Any On-Going Subscription Costs?
One of the biggest concerns for many practitioners is the cost of ownership. Some scanners come with hefty subscription fees for software updates, cloud storage, or support services. It’s a good idea to take into consideration a ‘lifetime cost’, say over 5-8 years to get a true cost-per-scan.
Aligners Only or Transforming Your Digital Workflow?
It’s important to consider how you’ll use the scanner. Are you only planning to offer aligners, or do you want a solution that integrates seamlessly with your entire digital workflow? Is the scanner you are considering compatible with all aligner systems or is the file format only suitable to one brand? Does the scanner software have any supporting applications like implant planning, prosthetics, and patient monitoring? Does the intraoral scanner software ecosystem allow you to integrate with multiple dental solutions, giving you the flexibility to expand your offerings as your practice grows?
Outright Purchase or Finance Options?
Budget constraints shouldn’t limit access to high-quality technology. If purchasing a Medit IO scanner through Trigiene we can offer both outright purchase and financing options, making the scanners accessible to practices of all sizes. Whether you’re looking for a one-time investment or prefer to spread out payments, we can provide flexible solutions that work for your financial plan.
Is There On-Going Support & Training?
Adopting new technology can be daunting without the right support. Following purchase, having the appropriate practice clinicians and nurses competently trained is essential to maximise your return on investment. Look at the ‘what if’ scenarios- is there online tutorials, on-site training telephone support or virtual online login support?
What’s the Image Quality & Accuracy Like?
Clinical success depends on the accuracy and quality of your scans. Whilst most scanners available will provide an acceptable quality scan for most aligner or restorative work, consider any future direction of your practice. With some intraoral scanners providing exceptional precision and capturing fine details, your new investment could expand your field of expertise with intricate cases and implantology.
Speed of Scanning
Time is a critical factor in any practice. Faster scans mean less chair time for patients and greater efficiency for your team. The size of the scanner tip end and FPS capture (frames per second) along with the power of the laptop or in cases of cloud based software, broadband speed will affect the speed of the scan. Intraoral scanners that are known for their lightning-fast scanning capabilities will enable you to capture full arches in less than 1 minute without compromising accuracy. This speed translates into a smoother workflow and happier patients. If the software relies on cloud based software, just bear in mind that you will need a good stable broadband connection with good internet speed.
Software Integration & Workflow
A seamless digital workflow is essential for maximizing the benefits of your scanner. Does the scanner software integrate effortlessly with other dental systems, including CAD/CAM platforms and lab management tools or is it restricted to certain partners? An open integration software allows you to streamline your processes, from scanning to fabrication, while maintaining full control over your workflow.
What Does the Cost & ROI Look Like?
Lastly, consider the overall cost of ownership and the potential return on investment (ROI). Remember to include any replacement tip costs, software subscriptions or other required consumables and look at the lifetime cost over 5 years. Can the intraoral scanner easily be moved between surgeries maximising it’s use or will it be more fixed to a particular surgery? This approach ensures your investment stays predictable and manageable over time. By improving efficiency, reducing material costs, and enabling new revenue streams, an intraoral scanner can quickly pay for itself.
Conclusion
Choosing the right intraoral scanner is a significant decision that can shape the future of your practice. By considering factors like subscription costs, workflow capabilities, financing options, support, image quality, speed, software integration, and ROI, you can make an informed choice.
Ready to transform your practice? Explore how the Trigiene range of Medit intraoral scanners can meet your needs and take your digital dentistry to the next level. The Medit range gives you the choice to meet every price point without compromising on quality. Medit stand out as a reliable and versatile option, offering cutting-edge technology with an affordable lifetime cost from as little as £1 per scan.
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