On our recent trip to IDS 2023 in Cologne, we got the chance to have an in-depth conversation with Planmeca about their Romexis software.
It was a really insightful conversation, which hinted at where dentistry is going to head in the next few years, as well as new features and updates that Planmeca are planning for Romexis
Check out the interview below, where we spoke to Saila Parmes from Planmeca and got the latest details on Romexis.
What new releases have you put out for this year?
At IDS, we're showing four new major features that all relate a little bit to artifical intelligence - which is the next big thing in dentistry of course! We have something for 2D imaging, 2D intraoral imaging, 3D CBCT and intraoral scanning. We also have something for orthognathic surgery, soft tissue simulation.
AI is the next big thing in digital dentistry for sure. Everyone's talking about it. So how have you implemented AI?
So for the 2D intraoral images, we have worked with Pearl AI, with their existing service, Second Opinion.
So now our users can get very easy access to that service just by using our Romexis software, and get the analysis of 2D intraoral images and panoramic images directly in our software.
So that comes directly into Romexis software through Pearl? You can order it, and pay through Pearl?
Exactly. We have a direct link. So for the user, basically, they just click on their Romexis. And all the information comes directly from Pearl to the Romexis and is viewed in Romexis and stored in Romexis.
Is your platform open to other analysis software integration?
Yes, for sure. We will see how it goes and then we can do the same similar kind of integration with other suppliers as well if needed.
Nice. And you said there was something happening in the world of Implantology?
Yes. Well, actually, in the CBCT world. So we have Romexis Smart, a new feature that is introduced here. So what Romexis Smart does is segment different anatomies from the CBCT.
So then, depending on what workflow you need, whether it's implantology, whether you want to do some larger orthognathic surgery planning - you can select different things.
But basically, it segments the mandible, maxilla, teeth, airways, sinuses, and soft tissue. And the same tool also maps the intraoral scans automatically to the CBCT.
So we have auto alignment. Does it map the nerves as well?
Yes! nerves are also mapped.
So it's auto-doing everything in Romexis?
Yes! And you can also get the detection of the teeth with that also, so you can then very easily navigate through the whole volume in Romexis.
A very, very useful tool and very quick too. It makes it quicker for the dentist to go through the volume and implant planning processes.
That would be a huge time saver. Do you have an idea roughly what the time is taken now versus what it used to be to plan an implant case?
Well, already in Romexis the implant planning workflow is quite quick compared to our competitors because we have all the different steps inside the same software. So there's no need for unnecessary importing and exporting, but you do everything in the same software, so it's already quite quick.
This new feature does automatic mapping and nerve canal detection. In a normal case, maybe it would take two to three minutes to perform those tasks.
And now, if you do them with the smart tool, it’s probably one minute or less.
So the more powerful computer, the better?
Yes, of course. It depends a lot on that and also on the case of whether we have a big CBCT volume or a smaller one. So that also affects the calculations.
Interesting. Can you tell us a bit about the soft-tissue simulation?
Absolutely! So that has to do with our Orthognathic Surgery Module. We can design in Romexis the full treatment plan for the orthognathic surgery. And the great thing is that if we also have taken the ProFace of the patient, we can also see the changes in the soft tissue image.
So that is a great visualization for the patient and looks amazing.
Does that use an external face scan as well for the visualization?
For now, it’s only with our ProFace. But maybe later on it could also be with other manufacturers.
Interesting. Can you tell me about the ortho simulation with the intraoral scanner?
So that's our fourth big new feature here at IDS that we are showing. So now in our CAD/CAM module, we will have this new functionality for ortho simulation, which means that after we have scanned the patient, we can generate the simulation of the outcome of the treatment to sell the treatment for the patient using our AI.
Better patient communication is always a good thing! So, this is only available to people that own a Planmeca Scanner?
At the moment, it will be. But later, it will also be available if you import any other scans from other manufacturers.
But for now, we have taught the algorithm with our Planmeca Emerald scans.
Any other big news? There are obviously some really big announcements from Planmeca, and software is the way to make dentists’ lives easier.
Yeah, those are the biggest announcements we have. Then we have smaller improvements in some visibility of the intraoral scans, how you see them on top of the CBCT. There are a lot of smaller improvements made in the software.
And these are available to existing Romexis users globally?
Yes, all of these new features would only require an upgrade for Romexis, and some of them also require a license update. But the way we develop things in Planmeca is so that when other new features are available, they will just need an upgrade of the software, and you can access them even if you are an old customer of Planmeca with an old software version.
And you're saying it’s an upgrade, is that a paid upgrade? Or a free upgrade, or does that depend on the version?
It would depend on the version.
I see, thank you for your time!
Thank you.