I've had the VistaScan Mini for just over a year now. This replaced our old system of X-ray film and a wet developer. The advantages to the practice have been remarkable. The plates are the same size and handle in the same manner as film, so there is little difference in taking intraoral exposures. The one difference is that the plates are noticeably thinner than the film and it is my experience that patients find them more tolerable intraorally. The processing of the plates is cleaner, faster and completely predictable. The plate is placed in the scanning slot, which removes the plastic cover, runs through the VistaScan Mini and drops out ready for recovering. This takes approximately 20 seconds per plate.
The Vista Scan Mini takes a one touch button to turn on and be ready for action. This compared to turning on a wet processor which can take half an hour to come up to the correct temperature, especially on a cold day.
There is minimal maintenance required with the Vista Scan Mini, simply wipe the scanning slot from time to time. There are no messy bottles of chemicals to splash about and stain everything. The most hated job in my practice has disappeared, the nurses dreaded the weekly emptying, cleaning and refilling our old wet processor, it took hours of valuable time, and ruined many uniforms.
Once scanned the images come up on your computer screen, via the DBSWIN software, a minute of post scanning manipulation of the images and you have them set out in the order you want, filed in the patients records. If you purchase the largest flat screen monitor that will fit comfortably in front of the patient to view the images, there will be no more trying to convince a sceptical patient that the minute dark spot they cannot see on a tiny grey film is something that they should be concerned about.
Once you place the film in the right place intraorally and set the correct exposure you can enjoy the confidence that comes with knowing that you will obtain a great image every time. Images can be reproduced and shared with patients and colleagues at the touch of a few buttons. Storage is easy and reliable within the DBSWIN software. The images stay where you put them and do not degrade like the films. This kit has saved me time, money and space [the scanning unit is tiny]. More importantly the images have greatly aided in better, easier diagnosis and given my practice a more professional image.