Cut
This refers to how the sensor is shaped. The shape of the sensor is important for patient comfort. Most sensors on the market have one of three shapes that really come down to what kind of corners they have — square, rounded, or cut. Square-cornered sensors have pointy corners and are in a nearly perfect rectangle shape. Rounded-corner sensors are almost a perfect rectangle shape, but the corners of the sensor have been slightly rounded. Cut-corner sensors have true rounded corners. How can you tell the difference? By the image that is produced. Does the digital X-ray image have pointed corners, pointed corners with slightly rounded edges, or is part of the image actually cut off?
Cut-corner sensors are the most comfortable sensors for your patient. Sensors that have cut corners will produce an image with just the very corners cut off. You don’t lose much of the image as far as the size of the image or what teeth you can diagnostically see, and your patients will not complain that the sensor hurts. DEXIS and DentiMax are two companies that offer sensors with cut corners.
Carat
This is the size of the sensor. Most sensors are the same width and length as #1 and #2 film. Unlike cut, size will affect how many teeth you can capture in a digital X-ray image and what you can diagnostically see in that image. Just like film, the #1 and #2 size sensors allow you to switch the sensor to the appropriate size for your patient. For example, if you have a patient with a torus or something similar, you can take most of the shots in your FMX with the size 2 sensor, and then switch to the size 1 for those hard-to-reach areas.
Thickness is the other measurement for the size of a sensor. You don’t want the sensor to be overly thick. Sensors between 4 mm and 6 mm thick are in the sensor “sweet spot” for thickness.
Choice
Choice is a factor that may affect you three to five years after your initial sensor purchase. Some companies limit you as to what sensor you can use with their software. If or when your sensor breaks, you will be forced to purchase their sensor at their price — no other option. Other companies provide software that gives you the freedom to choose whatever sensor, digital pan, and/or digital camera you may want to use.
Cost
This is the one C that often results in doctors “holding off” on switching from film to digital, or why they might only purchase one sensor. Using the measurements from this article, you will find that the sensor price does not always determine the quality of the sensor, and that the market currently offers high-grade quality sensors at many different price points.
Another cost factor is monthly maintenance and warranty fees. Some companies do not charge for maintenance fees and warranties, while others charge substantial fees. When comparing sensor prices, be sure that you add up the cost of the monthly fees so you can make an accurate comparison on the true cost of the sensor.
Conclusion – It can be difficult to distinguish between low-quality and high-quality digital sensors. There are many variables, measurements, and criteria that should be considered. Fortunately, just like diamonds, the C’s of sensors can help you make the best and most informed decision possible in your next digital sensor purchase.
James W. Ramey has a bachelor of science degree in management information systems from the University of Akron. For the last eight years, he has worked exclusively with digital radiography technology and has experience with most sensors on the market, including digital, panoramic, cephalometric, and intraoral cameras. You may reach Ramey at [email protected].
For more on this topic, go to www.dentaleconomics.com and search using the following key words: diamonds, digital sensors, digital imaging, digital radiography, dental technology, clarity, CMOS, CCD, cut, carat, Jim Ramey.
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