DEXIS™ IS 3800W Enables Dentist to “Think Big,” Provide Comprehensive Dentistry

Ian Lowell, DDS, followed in his father's footsteps to become a dentist, but his Aspen, Colorado, practice is leading, not following, when it comes to technology.

"As I developed this practice," says Lowell, a 2018 graduate of the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine, "I recognized that being in a small, rural town, we were missing some of the things you might find in a larger city. So, with COVID, over the past few years I started to develop a new, streamlined workflow that has allowed me to expedite processes and provide everything our patients might receive from a ‘big city' dental practice."

Lowell, who watched his father practice for more than 30 years, believes in the benefits of digital dentistry and that "technology is really the future of dentistry." At the heart of his practice is the DEXIS^™ IS 3800W intraoral scanner (IOS). "The DEXIS IS 3800W, along with all the other workflows I have, allows me to provide full, comprehensive dentistry, from periodontics all the way to dentures and removable dentistry." All this, he adds, while limiting the number of appointments that patients have in the chair.

The DEXIS IS 3800W is wireless and provides fast scan times of 25 seconds for a single arch, according to the manufacturer, further freeing up time for Lowell to focus on patients. The scanner's 16-mm x 14-mm field of view and broad 21-mm depth of field capture deliver exceptional details, in both interproximal areas and subgingival margins.

Lowell's practice scans each new patient, and he finds that the IOS is an extremely helpful educational tool to teach patients about their oral condition and dental needs. "From the moment they walk in, patients are fascinated by the idea of ‘Whoa, that's what my teeth look like?' because they can't see everything by simply looking in a mirror," he says.

The scanning technology from DEXIS, Lowell says, does more than just allow him to stop taking traditional impressions. In his work with a periodontist partner, he uses the DEXIS IS 3800W for the generation of 3D-printed surgical guides. He also utilizes the IOS for 3D printing clear aligners. "I like the control and ability to do all of our aligner therapy in-house. We can take a scan and in minutes show a patient what their teeth would look like if they were straighter."

For dentists who are interested in incorporating digital technology into their practice, Lowell suggests, "Think about the bigger picture and where you want to be in a few years. Utilize digital workflows and enjoy the fact that we can do so much more than just crowns and fillings." Speaking from experience, he adds that, "DEXIS is a one-stop shop that allows you to do it in a streamlined, easy way."

Ian Lowell, DDS
Private Practice, Aspen, Colorado

DEXIS
888-88-DEXIS
dexis.com