Resuming incomplete imaging series

If you acquired images using an imaging procedure for a series of intraoral X-rays, but you skipped the acquisition of any of the images in the series or canceled the acquisition of the series before acquiring all the images, you can return to that set and complete the image acquisitions as needed.

To resume an incomplete imaging series

  1. If the correct patient is not already selected, use the Patient Search box to access the patient's record.

    Note: You can include inactive patients in the search results by setting the Include inactive patients switch to On.

  2. On the Patient menu, under Clinical, click (or tap) Chart, Progress Notes, Quick Exam, Perio, Tx Planner, or Imaging. Then, on the Imaging tab's menu, click (or tap) Show Image History.

    The patient's imaging page opens to the history view. The most recent image, series (such as a full mouth series or bitewings), or set of photos (which was acquired using a custom imaging procedure) is selected by default on the Images tab.

  3. Select a series (such as a full mouth series or bitewings).

  4. On the corresponding options menu, click (or tap) Resume exam.

    The Acquisition Options dialog box appears.

  5. Under Acquisition sequence, select "Default sequence" or a custom order (if any).

  6. If you are using phosphor plates to acquire one or more images, before continuing, acquire the radiographs as needed.

    Do the following:

    1. Position a phosphor plate in the patient's mouth, and align your X-ray source cone to point at the phosphor plate, utilizing the paralleling or bisecting angle techniques. Make sure that the edge of the phosphor plate with the dot or letter is pointing upward for all vertical placements or pointing toward the back of the mouth for all horizontal placements.

      Note: A phantom, test target, and/or another non-human object should be X-rayed when installing or using any image acquisition device for the first time in Dentrix Ascend Imaging to verify proper operation prior to use on live patients.

    2. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel for the specific imaging device in use, and then trigger the radiation emission. (Refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your X-ray source for details about changing settings and usage.)

      Note: Radiation from an X-ray source causes the phosphor plate to capture the image, and this is controlled by someone triggering the X-ray source. The Dentrix Ascend Imaging program does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings.

    3. Repeat steps a-b as needed to acquire additional radiographs.

  7. Click (or tap) Proceed with Acquisition.

    The options for acquiring images in the series appear.

  8. Acquire one or more intraoral X-rays according to the type of device that was used to acquire the images in the series originally.

    Series of images with a sensor

    The first step with a missing image in the acquisition sequence for the template is selected automatically (as indicated by the green, numbered box) on the sequence diagram, and the applicable teeth are selected on the Tooth status chart for your reference.

    Then, the X-ray sensor becomes ready for exposure.

    Notes:

    • If you need to change the acquisition device, click (or tap) Pause (the label of the button changes to "Capture [teeth]"), select a different device on the Available Devices for Procedure menu, and then click (or tap) Capture [teeth] to resume the acquisition.

    • To skip ahead in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Skip Forward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the last step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    • To go backward in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Skip Backward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the first step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    Do the following:

    1. If applicable for the selected acquisition device, the Apply Device Filter list is available. From the list, select the filter that you want to have applied automatically to the image that will be acquired (Endodontic, Periodontic, General, Caries, or Hygiene), or select No Filter to not apply any filter.

    2. From the Automatically Apply Enhancement list, select the type of enhancement that you want to have applied automatically to the image that will be acquired (Entire Image, For Perio, For Endo), or select Not Enhanced to not apply any enhancement.

      Note: While viewing an image after it has been acquired, you can turn the enhancement off and on. The original, raw image is preserved. For more information about enhancements and turning them on and off, see "Processing images."

    3. Position the sensor in the patient's mouth, and align your X-ray source cone to point at the sensor, utilizing the paralleling or bisecting angle techniques.

      Note: A phantom, test target, and/or another non-human object should be X-rayed when installing or using any image acquisition device for the first time in Dentrix Ascend Imaging to verify proper operation prior to use on live patients.

    4. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel for the specific imaging device in use, and then trigger the radiation emission, which initiates the capture of the X-ray image. (Refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your X-ray source for details about changing settings and usage.)

      Note: Radiation from an X-ray source initiates the imaging device (sensor) to capture an image, and this is controlled by someone triggering the X-ray source. The Dentrix Ascend Imaging program does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings.

    5. If you acquired an image for a step in the acquisition sequence that already has an image, the Select Image dialog box appears. The recaptured image appears on the left under New Image. The existing image appears on the right under Old Image. Either leave the Delete rejected image checkbox selected to have the rejected image be deleted when you choose one of the "Keep" options, or clear the checkbox to have the rejected image be hidden when you choose one of the "Keep" options. Then, click (or tap) either Keep New to keep the recaptured image and put it on the top of the image stack for the template slot or Keep Old to keep the existing image and leave it on the top of the image stack for the template slot.

      A preview of the resulting image appears. Also, if the image that you just acquired was not for the last step in the acquisition sequence, the next step with a missing image in the acquisition sequence is selected automatically (as indicated by the green, numbered box) on the sequence diagram, and the applicable teeth are selected on the Tooth status chart for your reference.

      Then, the X-ray sensor becomes ready for exposure.

      Notes:

      • To replace the image that you acquired in the previous step of the acquisition sequence, click (or tap) Recapture [teeth]. When the X-ray sensor becomes ready for exposure, acquire the new image. The Select Image dialog box appears. Either leave the Delete rejected image checkbox selected to have the rejected image be deleted when you choose one of the "Keep" options, or clear the checkbox to have the rejected image be hidden when you choose one of the "Keep" options. Then, click (or tap) either Keep New to keep the recaptured image and put it on the top of the image stack for the template slot or Keep Old to keep the existing image and leave it on the top of the image stack for the template slot.

      • To skip ahead in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Skip Forward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the last step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

      • To go backward in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Skip Backward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the first step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    6. Repeat steps a-e as needed to acquire other images in the series.

    7. Click (or tap) Finish Acquisition.

    8. If any images fail to upload, a message appears and provides the option for you to recover the images. Click (or tap) Recover Images to begin the recovery process.

    Series of imported images

    The first step with a missing image in the acquisition sequence for the template is selected automatically (as indicated by the green, numbered box) on the sequence diagram, and the applicable teeth are selected on the Tooth status chart for your reference.

    Then, the Import File dialog box appears.

    Notes:

    • If you need to change the acquisition device, click (or tap) Cancel, and then select a different device on the Available Devices for Procedure menu. Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    • To skip ahead in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Cancel, and then click (or tap) Skip Forward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the last step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    • To go backward in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Cancel, and then click (or tap) Skip Backward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the first step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    • To apply an enhancement to the images that will be acquired, click (or tap) Cancel. From the Automatically Apply Enhancement list, select the type of enhancement that you want to have applied automatically to the image that will be acquired (Entire Image, For Perio, For Endo), or select Not Enhanced to not apply any enhancement. (While viewing an image after it has been acquired, you can turn the enhancement off and on. The original, raw image is preserved. For more information about enhancements and turning them on and off, see "Processing images.") Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    Do the following:

    1. In the Import File dialog box, select the correct image file.

    2. Click (or tap) Open.

    3. If you imported an image for a step in the acquisition sequence that already has an image, the Select Image dialog box appears. The recaptured image appears on the left under New Image. The existing image appears on the right under Old Image. Either leave the Delete rejected image checkbox selected to have the rejected image be deleted when you choose one of the "Keep" options, or clear the checkbox to have the rejected image be hidden when you choose one of the "Keep" options. Then, click (or tap) either Keep New to keep the recaptured image and put it on the top of the image stack for the template slot or Keep Old to keep the existing image and leave it on the top of the image stack for the template slot.

      A preview of the resulting image appears. Also, if the image that you just acquired was not for the last step in the acquisition sequence, the next step with a missing image in the acquisition sequence is selected automatically (as indicated by the green, numbered box) on the sequence diagram, and the applicable teeth are selected on the Tooth status chart for your reference.

      Then, the Import File dialog box appears.

      Notes:

      • To replace the image that you imported in the previous step of the acquisition sequence, click (or tap) Cancel, and then click (or tap) Recapture [teeth]. The Import File dialog box appears. Either leave the Delete rejected image checkbox selected to have the rejected image be deleted when you choose one of the "Keep" options, or clear the checkbox to have the rejected image be hidden when you choose one of the "Keep" options. Then, click (or tap) either Keep New to keep the recaptured image and put it on the top of the image stack for the template slot or Keep Old to keep the existing image and leave it on the top of the image stack for the template slot.

      • To skip ahead in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Cancel, and then click (or tap) Skip Forward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the last step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

      • To go backward in the acquisition sequence by one step, click (or tap) Cancel, and then click (or tap) Skip Backward (this button is available only if the current step in the sequence is not the first step). Then, click (or tap) Capture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence is missing an image) or Recapture [teeth] (if the current step in the acquisition sequence has an existing image) to resume the acquisition.

    4. Repeat steps a-c as needed to import other images in the series.

    5. Click (or tap) Finish Acquisition.

    6. If any images fail to upload, a message appears and provides the option for you to recover the images. Click (or tap) Recover Images to begin the recovery process.

    Series of images with a phosphor plate scanner

    Do the following:

    1. From the Automatically Apply Enhancement list, select the type of enhancement that you want to have applied automatically to the acquired images (Entire Image, For Perio, For Endo), or select Not Enhanced to not apply any enhancement.

      Note: While viewing an image after it has been acquired, you can turn the enhancement off and on. The original, raw image is preserved. For more information about enhancements and turning them on and off, see "Processing images."

    2. Put the phosphor plates, with the edges with the dot or letter pointing up, in the scanner according to the manufacturer's instructions.

    3. Click (or tap) Start Scanning.

      As the scanner finishes scanning a plate, the resulting image appears as a thumbnail image on the panel at the bottom of the Dentrix Ascend Imaging program.

    4. After all the plates have been scanned, one at a time, drag the thumbnail images from the panel to the correct boxes of the template.

      Note: If the orientations the phosphor plates were correct when the radiographs were taken and when inserted into the scanner, the images will have the correct orientation in the series. When you drop a thumbnail image into a box of the template, the image is rotated automatically as needed for that position in the series.

    5. As needed, do any of the following:

      • To stack multiple images in one template slot, drag either a thumbnail image from the panel at the bottom or an image from a template slot to a template slot that already has an image assigned. That image is put on the top of the image stack for that template slot (but you can choose a different image to be on top).

      • To choose the top image for a template slot with multiple images, navigate between the images in the stack by clicking (or tapping) the corresponding Next or Previous button as needed. The image that is visible in the stack when you click (or tap) Begin Uploading will be set as the top image of the stack (but you can choose a different image to be on top later).

      • To change the orientation of an image in the template, navigate to the desired image in the stack for a template slot (if multiple images are assigned to that template slot), select the image to view the toolbar, and then click (or tap) any of the available buttons as needed: Flip Horizontal, Flip Vertical, Rotate Counterclockwise (90 degrees), and/or Rotate Clockwise (90 degrees).

      • To remove an image from the template, navigate to the desired image in the stack for a template slot (if multiple images are assigned to that template slot), and then drag the image back to the panel at the bottom.

    6. Click (or tap) Begin Uploading to save the mounted images to the patient's record.

    7. If not all thumbnail images have been mounted to the template when you click (or tap) Begin Uploading or Cancel, a message appears, stating that unassigned images will not be saved to the patient's record.

      Click one of the following buttons:

      • Send to Recovery - To save the unassigned images. You can assign them to the patient later using the existing functionality for recovering images.

      • Discard Images - To delete the unassigned images permanently.

      • Stay on Page - To return to where you were so you can assign unassigned images or make other changes.

    8. If any images fail to upload, a message appears and provides the option for you to recover the images. Click (or tap) Recover Images to begin the recovery process.

    Series of images with a third-party program (TWAIN or bridge)

    Do the following:

    1. Use the options in the third-party TWAIN interface or imaging program that opens to get ready to acquire images.

    2. Position the sensor in the patient's mouth, and align your X-ray source cone to point at the sensor, utilizing the paralleling or bisecting angle techniques.

      Note: A phantom, test target, and/or another non-human object should be X-rayed when installing or using any image acquisition device for the first time in Dentrix Ascend Imaging to verify proper operation prior to use on live patients.

    3. Set the appropriate exposure time on your X-ray source's control panel for the specific imaging device in use, and then trigger the radiation emission. (Refer to the documentation provided by the manufacturer of your X-ray source for details about changing settings and usage.)

      Note: Radiation from an X-ray source initiates the imaging device (sensor) to capture an image, and this is controlled by someone triggering the X-ray source. The Dentrix Ascend Imaging program does not directly control the X-ray source or exposure settings.

    4. Repeat steps b-c as needed to acquire other images for the series.

    5. Close the third-party TWAIN interface or imaging program.

      The images that you acquired in the third-party imaging program appear as thumbnail images on the panel at the bottom of the Dentrix Ascend Imaging program.

    6. From the Automatically Apply Enhancement list, select the type of enhancement that you want to have applied automatically to the acquired images (Entire Image, For Perio, For Endo), or select Not Enhanced to not apply any enhancement.

      Note: While viewing an image after it has been acquired, you can turn the enhancement off and on. The original, raw image is preserved. For more information about enhancements and turning them on and off, see "Processing images."

    7. One at a time, drag the thumbnail images from the panel to the correct boxes of the template.

    8. As needed, do any of the following:

      • To stack multiple images in one template slot, drag either a thumbnail image from the panel at the bottom or an image from a template slot to a template slot that already has an image assigned. That image is put on the top of the image stack for that template slot (but you can choose a different image to be on top).

      • To choose the top image for a template slot with multiple images, navigate between the images in the stack by clicking (or tapping) the corresponding Next or Previous button as needed. The image that is visible in the stack when you click (or tap) Begin Uploading will be set as the top image of the stack (but you can choose a different image to be on top later).

      • To change the orientation of an image in the template, navigate to the desired image in the stack for a template slot (if multiple images are assigned to that template slot), select the image to view the toolbar, and then click (or tap) any of the available buttons as needed: Flip Horizontal, Flip Vertical, Rotate Counterclockwise (90 degrees), and/or Rotate Clockwise (90 degrees).

      • To remove an image from the template, navigate to the desired image in the stack for a template slot (if multiple images are assigned to that template slot), and then drag the image back to the panel at the bottom.

    9. Click (or tap) Begin Uploading to save the mounted images to the patient's record.

    10. If not all thumbnail images have been mounted to the template when you click (or tap) Begin Uploading or Cancel, a message appears, stating that unassigned images will not be saved to the patient's record.

      Click one of the following buttons:

      • Send to Recovery - To save the unassigned images. You can assign them to the patient later using the existing functionality for recovering images.

      • Discard Images - To delete the unassigned images permanently.

      • Stay on Page - To return to where you were so you can assign unassigned images or make other changes.

    11. If any images fail to upload, a message appears and provides the option for you to recover the images. Click (or tap) Recover Images to begin the recovery process.