Acquiring extraoral X-rays

You can acquire extraoral X-rays (panorexes and cephalograms) with digital equipment, phosphor plates, and third-party programs.

To acquire extraoral X-rays

1. On the patient's record > Imaging tab, clicktap the Imaging tab menu and select Acquire Images.

   

   The first imaging procedure in your favorites list displays.

   Tip: Your favorites list should include your most frequently used imaging procedures. If it does not, we recommend you adjust your favorites.

   

   Note: If prompted with a Diagnostic Use Warning window, select the I accept the above-mentioned policy check box and clicktap Accept & Go to Imaging.

2. (Optional) If necessary, select a different imaging procedure that corresponds to the acquisition type for an extraoral X-ray: Panoramic Image or Cephalometric Image.

   1. Under Imaging Procedures, clicktap one of the following tabs and select the procedure you want to perform.

      • Favorites - Displays a list of imaging procedures that you set as your favorite.

      • Standard - Displays a list of imaging procedures with standard imaging procedure codes from RCI.

      • Custom - Displays a list of imaging procedures with customized imaging procedures codes created by your organization's users.

      Note: Each procedure corresponds to an acquisition type: individual intraoral X-ray, intraoral X-ray series, extraoral X-ray, or intraoral photo, extraoral photo, CAD/CAM scan, or 3D volume.

      

3. Under Billing Options, set the following fields:

   • Apply charges: Select the check box if the fee for the selected procedure will be posted or deselect the check box a zero amount will be posted.

   • Bill to insurance: Select the check box if the patient's insurance carrier will be billed for the procedure.

   • Select Provider: Select the provider you want to associate with the procedure from the drop-down list.

4. Set the Acquisition Options as necessary for extraoral X-rays.

   1. If no interpretation or analysis of the acquired image will be done in your office, complete one of the following to use an alternative procedure code:

      • For a panorex , select the Without interpretation/analysis using code D0701 checkbox.

      • For a cephalogram, select the Without interpretation/analysis using code D0702 checkbox.

   2. Under Task to Perform, clicktap the Acquire Images tab to review the devices installed and configured on the computer.

   3. If necessary, click the arrow button and select the correct device.

      

5. Acquire the extraoral X-ray with the specified device.

   With a digital panoramic or cephalometric unit

   1. Position the patient properly for your extraoral X-ray imaging device.

      Example: Place the patient in a stand-up panoramic imaging device.

   2. ClickTap Proceed with Acquisition.

      

   3. Set the appropriate exposure parameters on your X-ray source's control panel and trigger the radiation emission to initiate the X-ray image capture.

      Note: For details about settings and usage, refer to documentation provided by the X-ray source manufacturer.

      Important: The Ascend Academic Imaging software does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings. Radiation from an X-ray source initiates the imaging device to capture an image, and this is controlled by someone triggering the X-ray source.

      The image saves to the patient's record and a preview displays.

   With a phosphor plate scanner

   1. Put a phosphor plate in your extraoral X-ray imaging device according to the manufacturer's instructions.

   2. Position the patient properly for your extraoral X-ray imaging device.

      Example: Place the patient in a stand-up panoramic imaging device.

   3. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel and trigger the radiation emission to capture the X-ray image with the phosphor plate.

      Note: For details about settings and usage, refer to documentation provided by the X-ray manufacturer.

      Important: The Ascend Academic imaging software does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings. 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.

   4. ClickTap Proceed with Acquisition.

      

   5. From the Automatically Apply Enhancement list, select the enhancement you want applied to the image.

      

      Tip: When viewing an image, you can turn the enhancement off and on, but the original, raw image is preserved. For more information about enhancements, see Processing images.

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

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

   With a third-party program (TWAIN or bridge)

   1. Position the patient properly for your extraoral X-ray imaging device.

      Example: Place the patient in a stand-up panoramic imaging device.

   2. ClickTap Proceed with Acquisition.

   3. Use the options in the third-party TWAIN interface or imaging program that opens to get ready to acquire the image.

   4. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel and trigger the radiation emission to capture the X-ray image with the phosphor plate.

      Note: For details about settings and usage, refer to documentation provided by the X-ray manufacturer.

      Important: The Ascend Academic imaging software does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings. 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.

   5. Close the third-party TWAIN interface or imaging program.

      The image is saved to the patient's record in the imaging program.