Acquiring an image for selected teeth

You can quickly acquire an image for the teeth that are selected on a patient's clinical chart.

To acquire an image

1. Use the Patient Search box to access a patient's record.

   Notes:

   • If the last patient record you accessed since you last logged on is the correct patient's record, you do not need to re-enter the patient's name in the Patient Search box.

   • You can include inactive patients in the search results by setting the Include inactive patients switch to On.

2. On the Patient menu, under Clinical, click (or tap) Chart.

   The patient's clinical record opens with the Chart tab selected.

3. Select one or more teeth.

   

4. Do one of the following:

   • If you have selected teeth for a periapical image, on the Imaging tab's menu, click (or tap) PA Quick acquire.

     

     The options to acquire an image become available. Skip steps 5-8.

   • On the Imaging tab's menu, click (or tap) Acquire images.

     

     The options for acquiring images become available. Proceed to step 5.

5. Under Imaging Procedures, the Favorites tab is selected by default if any imaging procedures for the current location have been marked as favorites; otherwise, the Standard tab is selected. However, you can select a different tab. Select the correct tab: Favorites, Standard, or Custom.

   Notes:

   • Custom and favorite imaging procedures are location specific.

   • The Custom tab is available only if custom imaging procedures exist for the current location.

   • The Favorites tab is available only if favorite imaging procedures exist for the current location.

6. If the Favorites tab is selected by default, the first imaging procedure is selected automatically, but you can select a different procedure. Select the correct procedure (an intraoral periapical or bitewing X-ray image).

   The options for the selected procedure become available.

   

7. Under Billing Options, set up the following options:

   • Apply charges - To post the fee for the selected procedure (such as D0210 for a full mouth series), select the check box. To post a zero amount for the procedure, clear the check box.

   • Bill to insurance - Specify whether you want to bill or not bill the patient's insurance carrier for the procedure by selecting or clearing the check box.

   • Provider - Select the provider who you want to associate with the procedure.

     Note: Only providers who have access to the current location are available.

8. Under Task to Perform, on the Acquire Images tab, select the correct device in the Available Devices menu if it is not already selected.

   

   Notes:

   • For the complete list of acquisition devices that are supported by Dentrix Ascend Imaging, see the "Supported Acquisition Devices" section.

   • The first time you attempt to use an intraoral camera with Dentrix Ascend Imaging on any computer, when a message from the browser appears and asks if you want to allow the browser to have access to the camera, allow it.

9. If you are going to use a phosphor plate to capture an intraoral X-ray image, before continuing, capture the radiograph.

   Do the following:

   1. For an intraoral image, position a phosphor plate in the patient's mouth, and align your X-ray source cone to point at the phosphor plate, utilizing the paralleling or bisecting angle techniques. Make sure that the edge of the phosphor plate with the dot or letter is pointing upward for all vertical placements or pointing toward the back of the mouth for all horizontal placements.

      Note: A phantom, test target, and/or another non-human object should be X-rayed when installing or using any image acquisition device for the first time in Dentrix Ascend Imaging to verify proper operation prior to use on live patients.

   2. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel for the specific imaging device in use, and then trigger the radiation emission. (Refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your X-ray source for details about changing settings and usage.)

      Note: Radiation from an X-ray source causes the phosphor plate to capture the image, and this is controlled by someone triggering the X-ray source. The Dentrix Ascend Imaging program does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings.

10. Click (or tap) Proceed with Acquisition, and then acquire an image according to the acquisition type of the selected procedure.

    Intraoral X-ray

    The selected acquisition device is initialized.

    

    Then, the X-ray sensor is armed.

    

    Then, the X-ray sensor becomes ready for exposure.

    

    Do the following:

    1. If you need to change the selected acquisition device, select the correct device on the Available Devices for Procedure menu.

       

    2. If applicable to the selected acquisition device, the Apply Device Filter list is available. From the list, select the filter that you want to have applied automatically to the image that will be acquired (Endodontic, Periodontic, General, Caries, or Hygiene), or select No Filter to not apply any filter.

       

    3. From the Automatically Apply Enhancement list, select the type of enhancement that you want to have applied automatically to the image that will be acquired (Entire Image, For Perio, For Endo), or select Not Enhanced to not apply any enhancement.

       

       Note: While viewing an image after it has been acquired, you can turn the enhancement off and on. The original, raw image is preserved. For more information about enhancements and turning them on and off, see the "Processing images" section.

    4. Position the sensor in the patient's mouth, and align your X-ray source cone to point at the sensor, utilizing the paralleling or bisecting angle techniques.

       Note: A phantom, test target, and/or another non-human object should be X-rayed when installing or using any image acquisition device for the first time in Dentrix Ascend Imaging to verify proper operation prior to use on live patients.

    5. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel for the specific imaging device in use, and then trigger the radiation emission, which initiates the capture of the X-ray image. (Refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your X-ray source for details about changing settings and usage.)

       Note: Radiation from an X-ray source initiates the imaging device (sensor) to capture an image, and this is controlled by someone triggering the X-ray source. The Dentrix Ascend Imaging program does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings.

       

       The resulting image is saved to the patient's record.

       

       Then, if you are acquiring in endo mode, the sensor is re-armed automatically and becomes ready for another exposure; otherwise, ignore the following steps.

    6. While in endo mode, repeat steps b-c as needed to retake the radiograph until you have acquired a satisfactory image.

       

       Note: The saved state of the Smaller/Larger button , which is available when you are viewing images, affects the preview size of images during acquisitions in endo mode. The state of the button is stored per computer (or device).

    7. When you are finished acquiring in endo mode, click (or tap) Finish Acquisition.

    Intraoral X-ray (using a phosphor plate)

    The scanner is initialized.

    

    Then, the scanner continues preparing to scan.

    

    Then, the scanner becomes ready.

    

    Do the following:

    1. From the Automatically Apply Enhancement list, select the type of enhancement that you want to have applied automatically to the image that will be acquired (Entire Image, For Perio, For Endo), or select Not Enhanced to not apply any enhancement.

       

       Note: While viewing an image after it has been acquired, you can turn the enhancement off and on. The original, raw image is preserved. For more information about enhancements and turning them on and off, see the "Processing images" section.

    2. Put the phosphor plate, with the edge with the dot or letter pointing up, in the scanner according to the manufacturer's instructions.

       The scanner begins scanning the plate.

       

       When the scanner finishes scanning the plate, the resulting image is saved to the patient's record.

       

    Intraoral X-ray (using a software device)

    Do the following:

    1. Use the options in the third-party imaging program that opens to get ready to acquire the image.

    2. Position the sensor in the patient's mouth, and align your X-ray source cone to point at the sensor, utilizing the paralleling or bisecting angle techniques.

       Note: A phantom, test target, and/or another non-human object should be X-rayed when installing or using any image acquisition device for the first time in Dentrix Ascend Imaging to verify proper operation prior to use on live patients.

    3. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel for the specific imaging device in use, and then trigger the radiation emission. (Refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your X-ray source for details about changing settings and usage.)

       Note: Radiation from an X-ray source initiates the imaging device (sensor) to capture an image, and this is controlled by someone triggering the X-ray source. The Dentrix Ascend Imaging program does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings.

    4. Close the third-party imaging program.

       The image is saved to the patient's record in the Dentrix Ascend Imaging program automatically.