Andrew Hall We have all been there clinically when we are trying to image in the anterior segment of the mouth with the CEREC Omincam and found it to be somewhat challenging. I will say that with every upgrade of the software the imaging has been vastly improved. I have found clinically that there are two keys to successful imaging in the anterior segment of the mouth with Omnicam. The first key is to have a strategy or technique in which you image, by that I mean a specific pattern you guide the camera. My preferred method is to start along the lingual aspect of the anterior teeth and then use either a canine or premolar, something with more surface area than an incisor to make my transition to the facial aspect. After the transition to the facial aspect, I then work back towards where I started on the lingual aspect thus capturing the lingual and buccal aspects in essentially two passes. From this point it becomes much easier to fill in the missing data and capture all the incisal edges and embrasures now that I have a nice framework.
The second key to imaging in the anterior is isolation. This is just as critical as the first key and will make the process much easier if you get the field isolated properly. When working on the upper anterior teeth quite often an Optragate from Ivoclar is sufficient. The real challenge is the lower anterior teeth. One trick that you may find helpful is to use both an Optragate and also a retractor that most everyone has laying around the office. These retractors are commonly used for in office bleaching. The unique aspect of these retractors is they either have a cup or ledge in which you can have the patient position the tongue behind. As you an see in the picture, by using both of these devices, the lips are out of the way and the tongue is positioned in such a manner that you can very easily image the lower anterior teeth.
