Open Dental Forum

Open Dental Imaging - Take Xray directly in Open Dental
In the Images module, you get the Xray "Acquire" feature, at no additional charges, when you are on customer support.
Almost a year ago, and as of Version 20.5 , open dental works with many sensors and panoramic machines that you already have in your office.
X-ray Sensor , or Pan, that has a Twain Driver
You can acquire Xrays directly in the Images module in Open Dental, there is no need for another imaging software like Apteryx, Dexis, etc....
In the Images module, look for the "Acquire" tab, to acquire Xray.



Setup:
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1- Sign up for SUPPORT:
In the Images folder, look for the "Acquire" tab, to acquire Xray
- If you are on OD Support, this Xray "Acquire" option is activated, and now you can take Xrays directly in OD. Contact OD support to activate the acquire feature.
- If you are not on support, you can not access this feature.

2- UPDATE to the newest OD version to get many of the additional IMAGING features

3- IT guy and Twain driver installation:
To make your Sensor work with this " Acquire" feature you need your IT guy to help you with the installation.
Your IT guy need to be familiar with your Xray sensor information, because you will need the TWAIN driver to be installed on ALL the computers where you want to take Xrays . In general, most Xray sensors have Twain drivers.
Your Twain driver is probably already installed on your computers when you first bought your sensors, or it is available on the CD that was provided to you with your purchase,
If you are not sure what to look for, the simplest way is for your IT guy to contact your Sensor manufacturer, or go to their website, request or download the Twain driver, and install it on your computers where you want to take xrays

4- Add your devices and sensors
More info is available on OD website
https://www.opendental.com/manual/imagingdevices.html

OD offer guides on their website on how to install these sensors.
Let your IT guy go through this guide first https://opendental.com/site/sensorcompatibility.html

5- Some native sensor support will also be included in addition to Twain. Work in progress.

6- Create MOUNTS:
A mount is a collage of multiple images or radiographs that can be viewed together.
https://www.opendental.com/manual/mountdefinitions.html

7- Acquire:
Click "Acquire" to take an image using an imaging device.
First, set up Imaging Devices.
When taking an image, load up a Mount from the Toolbar.
If no mount is loaded, then images will be placed in the currently selected image category or the top category.

Device: Use the dropdown to select a device.
Start: Click to start the acquisition.
End: Click to end the acquisition.

https://www.opendental.com/manual/images.html

8- Open Dental Imaging, more information is available here
https://www.opendentalsoft.com:8085/for ... f=1&t=7394

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9- Another Alternative: Create a bridge to your existing Imaging software
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Instead of directly using sensors, you also have the option of using a "bridge", a Program Link to 3rd party Imaging software.
Open Dental already bridge to hundred of Xray Imaging software. Setting a "bridge" takes just few minutes.
https://www.opendental.com/site/programbridges.html

Anyone with additional information, please post it here

**** I am not an employee or affiliated with Open Dental or any other company. Just a happy Open Dental user since 2010.

Jordan-
Does the 'Imaging Module' or 'Acquire' feature within it require a support contract to function?
What about utilizing the 3D chart?

I have maintained support over the past 16 years but assumed the imaging module, any upgrades to it, and the 3D charting were included regardless of support status. I was discussing the updates to the imaging module on DentalTown and someone pointed out that the new imaging features to acquire x-rays are tied to the support contract. I did not see any specifics on the imaging module help page but curious to know if that is accurate, and if so the idea behind it?

Thanks,
Nathan Klein

We were going to build a separate Imaging module that we would charge separately for. Then Apteryx took a nose dive and Covid hit. I decided that dentists couldn't really afford to pay separately for this, so we just rolled it all into the main program. As part of that compromise, I decided that the office should at least be on support to capture radiographs and use the intraoral camera feature. The 3D charting has always been included and is not tied to a support contract unless you are using it on a thin client. The reason for this is so that other SAAS companies can't use the 3D tooth chart with other software. We have constant problems with other companies plopping our 3D tooth chart into their software so that it looks good.