Step 1: Prepare a resin plate, with radiopaque control elements, to perform the 3D X-ray

Use resin with the lowest possible radiation density (e.g. Techno Tray Luz®, from Protechno®).

Make a plate well adapted to the model, or order it from your Prosthetics Laboratory

The plate will be of the usual thickness, and should have resin impellers so that the patient can press lightly when performing the 3D X-ray.

Step 2: Add radiopaque balls

Glue four 3 or 4 mm diameter spherical lead pellets along the edge of the plate.

Perform the 3D X-ray scan with the plate in the patient's mouth

Whatever the type of Rx scan (CT, CBCT or 3D) the patient should have the plate inserted and occlude with light and permanent force on it.

It is preferable the mentonian support to the intraoral, to position the patient's head, in order not to interfere with the bite.

It is very important that you check, before the Rx test , that the plate is stable and does not move easily from its position, otherwise we will not obtain accurate images and the scan will have to be repeated.

If the scan is not performed in your own office, explain this process to the radiologist.

If the plate resin is too radiopaque, it may be necessary to perform a double 3D scan of the patient, with and without the plate in his mouth. In this case you should send us both studies. But if you choose a suitable resin, this will not be necessary.

Double scan of the jaw model

Scan the same maxillary model twice: without the plate and with the plate. Both scans must include the dental base, because it will be the area of alignment of the models to the CT (3D).

In other words, you will have to send us 2 STL files.

Therefore, in this case it is more advisable to take impressions directly from the patient's mouth, because if we do it with intraoral scanner we must print it to make the plate.