Gendex GXCB-500
CBCT capability & upgrade report
Specifications
| Sharpest resolution | 125 µm voxel |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 8–14 cm |
| Capture modes | 8x8 (Standard/Jaw: 8 cm dia x 8 cm h), 14x8 (EDS: 14 cm dia x 8 cm h) |
| Detector | a-Si flat panel, 13x13 cm, CsI; 14-bit (16,384 shades), 0.5 mm focal spot, 14 lp/cm @ 0.2 voxel |
| Tube voltage | 120–120 kVp |
| Tube current | 3–7 mA |
| Scan time | 8.9 s (0.3/0.4 voxel, Std/EDS); 23 s (0.125/0.2/0.25 high-res). Recon <20 s Std, <95 s EDS |
| Released | 2008 |
| In service | 18 years |
| Status | Legacy |
| Export path | DICOM 3 export; free i-CATVision viewer; files <20 MB Std / <76 MB EDS |
| Current successor | GXCB-500 HD |
| Market position | Entry-level affordable rebadged i-CAT Classic for GP implant/endo/surgery |
Where the Gendex GXCB-500 stands today
- Resolution is solid mainstream (125µm at best). Fine for implant visualization; the newest high-res units go finer, but the real-world difference is marginal for case communication.
- Field of view reaches 14cm — enough for both arches in one capture. Most practices never switch out of the small default FOV and never know they have this.
- It's 18 years old (2008) — legacy hardware. The question isn't "is it old," it's "does a networking/software path get you current for a fraction of a new unit." Usually yes.
- Detector: a-Si flat panel, 13x13 cm, CsI; 14-bit (16,384 shades), 0.5 mm focal spot, 14 lp/cm @ 0.2 voxel.
- This model is no longer sold new (succeeded by the GXCB-500 HD) — which means parts, service, and software support are the thing to verify before any new spend.
What it already does that most practices don't use
- Multiple FOV modes (8x8 (Standard/Jaw: 8 cm dia x 8 cm h), 14x8 (EDS: 14 cm dia x 8 cm h)). Most operators leave it on one preset — the larger modes are already paid for.
- Output/networking: DICOM 3 export; free i-CATVision viewer; files <20 MB Std / <76 MB EDS. That export path is what lets a scan leave the machine and become something a patient can actually look at.
Upgrade paths for the Gendex GXCB-500
- UpgradeSoftware-selectable Standard vs EDS FOV; collimation down to 4 cm h; single sensor switches 3D<->2D pan by software checkbox
- SuccessorThe GXCB-500 HD is the current successor — useful as a yardstick for what actually changed, not an automatic reason to buy it.
- NetworkThe fastest upgrade is almost never new hardware — it's getting the volume off the machine and into a workflow. That alone changes what the box is worth to you.
- ReconfigureSwitching your default to the right FOV/scan mode for implant cases is free, and most practices never do it.
Repair vs. replace: what it costs
Repair: the dominant wear item on any dental CBCT is the X-ray tube — a replacement runs roughly $15,000-$40,000, typically every 3–7 years depending on scan volume. A larger-FOV unit like this one sits toward the upper end of that range. Budget a service contract at about $5,000–$15,000/year and software licensing around $2,000/year. A flat-panel detector is the big unknown — it isn't publicly priced, so get a manufacturer quote before assuming the worst.
Parts & service (legacy unit): because this model is no longer sold new, parts and service availability — not the sticker — decide whether a repair is worth it. Confirm both before any spend.
Replace: a comparable unit runs roughly No MSRP; used/reseller ~$10k-$35k. The honest test before spending that is whether a networking or software path gets you most of the capability for a fraction of it — for an aging machine, it usually does.
Figures are 2025–26 industry ranges for dental CBCT, not a quote for your exact unit or contract. Sources: Medical Imaging Specialists, DentalTI buyer's guide, The Dental Signal.
Gendex GXCB-500 — common questions
- Can Alvea use scans from the Gendex GXCB-500?
- Yes. The Gendex GXCB-500 exports a standard DICOM volume, and Alvea converts that volume into a chairside 3D model of the patient's jaw — no new hardware and no new scan. It runs off the cone-beam you already take.
- Is the Gendex GXCB-500 discontinued, and what replaced it?
- The Gendex GXCB-500 is no longer sold new; its successor is the GXCB-500 HD. An aging unit is rarely a reason to replace on its own — parts, service and a software/networking path usually keep it clinically current for far less than a new machine.
- How much does a Gendex GXCB-500 cost?
- A comparable Gendex GXCB-500 runs roughly No MSRP; used/reseller ~$10k-$35k. Before replacing, weigh whether a networking or software path gets you most of the capability for a fraction of that.
- How much does it cost to repair a Gendex GXCB-500?
- The dominant repair on any dental CBCT is the X-ray tube, which runs roughly $15,000-$40,000 and is typically replaced every 3–7 years by scan volume. Annual service contracts run about $5,000–$15,000, and a flat-panel detector is quoted by the manufacturer rather than listed publicly. These are 2025–26 industry ranges, not a quote for a specific unit.
- What is the field of view on the Gendex GXCB-500?
- The Gendex GXCB-500 reaches 14 cm, enough to capture both arches in one scan — a mode most practices never switch to.
See what a Gendex GXCB-500 scan becomes.
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