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The Latest Technologies Advancing Ortho Care by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Orthotown Magazine

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by Benjamin Lund, Editor, Orthotown Magazine

On the night of May 5, 2013, while the denizens of Philadelphia sported sombreros and imbibed margaritas to commemorate the annual observance of El Dia de la Batalla de Puebla - aka, "Cinco de Mayo" - visiting orthodontists and orthodontic professionals from around the world had other reasons to celebrate. Orthotown along with i-CAT and Ormco hosted the most anticipated event of the week at the opulent Trust building, located in Philly's old city district, to applaud the latest technologies in advancing orthodontic care. For days, attendees and exhibitors at the 2013 American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) Annual Session were buzzing about brand new technologies that were unveiled at the meeting - specifically the Lythos Digital Impression System from Ormco and the newest addition to i-CAT's 3D imaging family, i-CAT FLX.

"It's my pleasure to welcome you here tonight to this wonderful event at a wonderful venue," announced the emcee of the evening, Orthotown Magazine Editorial Director Dr. Alan Curtis, in front of the standing-room-only throng of key-opinion leaders and top message board posters from Orthotown.com who were fortunate enough to score a coveted wristband invitation for the event. "We are truly excited about these transformational technologies that you will see tonight."

Dr. Curtis first introduced Mark Hillebrandt, vice president of marketing and product management at Ormco Corporation, to unveil Ormco's brand new Lythos Digital Impression System. "It's not every day we get to bring something this innovative to the market," said Hillebrandt. "For more than 50 years, Ormco has been delivering innovation to the market. From copper NiTi wires to self-ligating brackets it has been our mission to transform orthodontics and help orthodontists deliver better care, more efficient care and grow their businesses. We see a transformation happening in the orthodontic market that's critical to us and that's a digital transformation - where orthodontics is digitized from the very start to the very end of treatment." Hillebrandt then introduced the Lythos Digital Impression System to the audience, boasting its compact footprint, its ability to scan an entire mouth in less than seven minutes and its open platform, which allows the orthodontic practice to own each scan it takes and do whatever it wants with that image. "Has anybody ever told you what you can do with a PVS impression?" Hillebrandt asked the audience. "I don't think so. We're not going to tell you what you can do with your digital impression."

Lythos Digital Impressions System
Inspired by the word "lithography" - the process of replicating or producing a mirror image of data within the exact confines from which it was taken - Ormco's Lythos Digital Impressions System uses Fluid Convergence Technology to capture data in real time (vs. post-process stitching) to acquire high-definition detail at all angulations of the tooth surface scanned. An entire high-resolution, dual-arch scan can be completed in as little as seven minutes.

With the ability to complete a scan in about the same time as a PVS impression, Lythos is easily integrated into any practice workflow, allowing the professional team to transition quickly to digital impressions while keeping chair time to a minimum. The lightweight, compact and ergonomic Lythos wand is comfortable to hold in varying positions and light enough to use throughout the day for increased staff comfort. Similarly, the wand easily reaches the posterior of the mouth for maximum patient comfort.

With a unique open platform format and rebate program, the Lythos scanner is a sound financial investment able to positively impact practice efficiency and return on investment. Lythos' open system allows data to be easily integrated with orthodontic labs and manufacturers to produce a variety of custom appliances and/or study models - including compatibility with Ormco's Insignia Advanced Smile Design including Clearguide Express Aligners and AOA lab. Unlike other digital impressions systems, Lythos creates STL (stereolithography) files of patient data that can be downloaded and used in any manner at no additional charge. Additionally, when Lythos scan data is used for Ormco and/or AOA products, practices earn valuable rebates.

Lythos' easy-to-clean touch screen allows for fast rotation of models on screen and when entering patient data, and offers flexibility to re-scan anytime during the process. Practices can also wirelessly upload patient data to the cloud where it can be accessed from any computer in the office.

To learn more about Lythos visit www.ormco.com.

Next on the mic was Director of Product Management at Imaging Sciences Kalpana Singh, who graciously shared the company's philosophy before introducing the newest product in the i-CAT family, the i-CAT FLX. "We hold quality, service and innovation at the core of our products," said Singh. "We consider every owner of an i-CAT to be a part of our extended i-CAT family - in fact another part of our philosophy is our dedication to learning. We strive to learn from our owners and from our esteemed clinical partners to understand what your needs are and deliver those features to you." The newest feature Singh was excited to share with the party's attendees was, in fact, the i-CAT FLX with its QuickScan+ protocol, which allows users to take a 3D image of the same field of view as a 2D panoramic, with less radiation dose than the 2D pano.



i-CAT FLX
i-CAT FLX provides 3D imaging at a dose lower than a 2D Panoramic X-ray with QuickScan+*
Designed for greater flexibility in scanning, planning and treatment.

i-CAT FLX - an innovative 3D imaging solution - can help clinicians to quickly diagnose complex problems with less radiation* and develop treatment plans more easily and accurately. The system offers 3D planning and treatment tools for orthodontics, implants and restorations, oral and maxillofacial surgery, plus TMD and airway disorders

i-CAT FLX has a range of innovative features that deliver greater clarity, ease-of-use and control for effective orthodontic planning.

  • QuickScan+ allows for a full-dentition 3D scan at a lower dose than a panoramic image*.
  • Visual iQuity image technology provides i-CAT's clearest 3D and 2D images*.
  • SmartScan STUDIO's touchscreen interface and integrated acquisition system yields more control and workflow flexibility by allowing the clinician to easily select the appropriate scan for each patient at the lowest acceptable radiation dose.
  • Ergonomic Stability System (ESS) offers seated positioning, robust head stability and adjustable seating controls to minimize patient movement, thus reducing the need for retakes. ESS also provides wheelchair accessibility.
  • i-Collimator electronically adjusts the field-of-view to limit radiation only to the area of scanning interest.
  • i-CAT FLX's small footprint fits easily into any practice.
  • i-PAN for traditional 2D panoramic images.
As with all i-CAT products, Tx STUDIO optimized treatment-planning software provides immediate access to integrated treatment tools for dedicated orthodontic functions.

Live 3D events like the 7th International Congress on 3D Dental Imaging help to inform and inspire clinicians on the applications of 3D imaging to the dental practice. For more details, contact marketing@i-cat.com to register or visit www.i-CAT.com. For the most current news and details about the 7th Congress, like i-CAT on Facebook at: facebook.com/iCAT3D.

*data on file with i-CAT

Following the rousing presentations, party attendees were welcome to enjoy drinks, appetizers and dessert; mingle; and get silly in front of the camera at the digital photobooth. Party guests were also encouraged to demo some of the features of these new technologies on display. Many were impressed with what they had seen and were excited about implementing Lythos and i-CAT FLX in their own practices.

"I think Lythos is the most advanced scanner to come along in the last decade," said Dr. Monte Collins of Bedford, Texas. "I'm really excited to get one in my office. Digital dentistry and digital orthodontics is the future. Lythos allows us to not only do simple things like models that can be used for retainers of other appliances that go off to the lab. PVS and alginate impressions are going to be a thing of the past."

When asked about the new i-CAT FLX machine, Dr. Jason Battle of Orlando, Florida, said, "I love the i-CAT. It allows me to see things I'd never seen before, and I'm more excited about practicing orthodontics than I've ever been before, because I know the finished results are going to be better than they've ever been before."

Dr. David Paquette of Mooresville, North Carolina, was one of the few attendees who had the chance to beta test Lythos, and expressed his excitement for this new technology. "I had the opportunity to try one of the beta versions of Lythos and I was convinced," said Paquette. "The real test was when my staff recently tried it. They texted me immediately asking if we could buy two of them. I've been an advocate for digital orthodontics for 10 years now, and within five years anyone who's still doing impressions will be considered dinosaurs. Patients who had braces in the 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s don't remember the orthodontist's name, they don't remember how long it took to get their teeth straight, but they all remember getting impressions. So the worst part of orthodontic treatment doesn't have to be done anymore."

Dr. Martin Van Vliet of Highland, New York, and Ramsey, New Jersey, explained his excitement about the i-CAT FLX, “The i-CAT FLX will revolutionize how we diagnose, educate and treat our orthodontic patients," he said. “Less radiation than a panoramic X-ray, clearer 2D and 3D images, and the ability to better communicate with our patients and other professionals, are just some of the unique enhancements of the i-CAT FLX. A new standard in 3D imaging has been created!"

The event was an amazing success, justifying the arrival of digital orthodontics, not just as a fad anymore, but as the new standard of orthodontic practice. All throughout the party, one could hear conversations about how far digital orthodontics had come in the last decade - and what more, some were speculating on what new digital innovations the profession would see in the next decade. Although the party is over, the excitement continues... because the future is digital.

Orthotown Magazine
October 2025
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