To make the right selection for your practice, it is necessary to understand the differences between the two technologies and how practice size, number of sites, ease of mobility, budget, size, ergonomic comfort, and technology needs should be considered.
Why choose a wireless intraoral scanner?
Because of experiences with poor connectivity and low battery life, some dental offices have been hesitant to invest in wireless chairside equipment. However, wireless intraoral scanners have advantages over wired intraoral scanners, such as flexibility. Dentists can move from chair to chair or room to room without worrying about cords and cables getting in the way for a better patient experience.
Intraoral scanners, like the DEXIS™ IS 3800W, are small and lightweight with compact battery chargers freeing up valuable office real estate. The IS 3800W scanner can be used with a laptop or installed on the IS Voyager mobile cart that can be wheeled from room to room.
In general, wireless scanners provide a more streamlined, convenient, and efficient scanning experience than corded scanners.
Are wireless scanners reliable?
Gone are the days when your mobile phone needs to remain plugged in all day to maintain battery life, and the IS 3800W intraoral scanner is no exception. The batteries are designed to provide approximately 1 hour of continuous scanning through 500 battery charging cycles after which the battery's charging power diminishes by 80%. At 6-8 full arch scans per charge, each battery can last for up to 3,000 – 4,000 scans. Additional batteries or optional battery charging device can be purchased for practices with a high volume of appointments.
The IS 3800W includes a backup power supply; in the case that all batteries are depleted, the backup power cable can be used to power the scanner, and the backup cable can be replaced with the battery once it has been recharged.
During scanning, the IS 3800W sends data from the handpiece to the computer through a USB WiFi adapter with no impact on acquisition capability or scanning acquisition speed between the wired IS 3800 and the wireless IS 3800W.
The absence of wires provides exceptional comfort and mobility while reducing the unpleasantness of having a cable stretched across a patient's body. Also, with no cable, there is one less location that must be sterilized before use.
The mobility of wireless technology between treatment rooms is among the top benefits of the IS 3800W. Every workstation can be outfitted with a WiFi dongle, allowing the scanner to be easily moved about the clinic without the need to link it into a computer. This is extremely helpful for offices that keep their computers in furniture or cabinets, as there is no need to attach USB extension cords to access the connection point (and no worries about wires becoming loose inside the furniture over time). All that needs to be done is to move the scanner from room to room and activate it at the workstation in that location to begin scanning.
Why choose a wired scanner?
Wired devices are typically plug and play. Because the scanner is powered by the computer, there is no concern about power loss due to battery depletion. The IS 3800 scanner may be the right option for customers who do not want to monitor battery life throughout the day.
If your practice is in a building with congested wireless hotspots that could cause a disruption (as is the case with some medical facilities and high-rises). The direct USB connection provided by the IS 3800 may be a more reliable connection than the WiFi connection provided by the IS 3800W.
The IS 3800 scanner is significantly lighter than the IS 3800W, weighing only 190g as opposed to 240g (with battery) for the IS 3800W. The IS 3800 is also less expensive than the IS 3800W, making it an excellent choice for those looking for a high-performance scan at a low cost.
A disadvantage of using a wired intraoral scanner is that it must be powered from the connected PC, limiting mobility, because the scanner is connected to the computer.
Which Scanner Should I Choose for my Practice?
The two main distinctions are the power source and the weight. The wireless version is powered by a battery, while the wired version is powered by a USB Type-C connection. Furthermore, the IS 3800W is the industry's lightest wireless scanner, weighing just 240g with the battery, while the IS 3800 is one of the lightest wired intraoral scanners, weighing only 190g.1
In order to assist practices in selecting the DEXIS IOS model and configuration that meets their needs, we have compiled the following table.
1Scanner wand only including tip, excluding cable.