ClearCorrect recently launched a new Cone Beam Computed Tomography functionality. This feature allows dentists to superimpose DICOM files directly onto intraoral scans. The workflow differs significantly from Align Technology’s deeply integrated Invisalign and iTero ecosystem.

ClearCorrect relies on an open architecture platform rather than automated integration. Doctors must manually export large DICOM files from their in-office machine. These must be dragged and dropped alongside standard STL scanner files. This adds an extra manual workflow step for clinicians used to quick uploads.

Digital technicians must manually segment the roots and bones after upload. This manual segmentation adds an extra two to three days to setup times. Non-CBCT cases generally see much faster processing turnarounds. However, this timeline mirrors Invisalign setups which also take longer to process.

The system maps out root positions to predict critical bone boundaries. It highlights instances where roots hit the thin cortical plates. Clinicians must still manually dictate exactly how to alter tooth movements. Technicians will not automatically fix or figure out how to avoid fenestrations.

The return on investment remains high despite the extra manual setup steps. Accurate bone visualization results in fewer case refinements over time. Doctors can avoid doing unnecessary interproximal reduction. This visual data prevents cases from going sideways mid-treatment.

Clinicians can accept complex cases with higher clinical confidence. The system is highly beneficial for planning implant placements. It also improves outcomes for managing dental impactions. ClearCorrect also maintains lower lab fees compared to Invisalign. Less required overall patient chair time makes this feature a major win.