Can Alvea use scans from the i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic?

Yes. The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic 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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic discontinued, and what replaced it?

The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic is no longer sold new; its successor is the i-CAT Next Generation. 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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic cost?

A comparable i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic runs roughly used ~$10k-25k (rough). 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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic?

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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic?

The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic reaches 16 cm, enough to capture both arches in one scan — a mode most practices never switch to.

i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona)legacy

i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic
CBCT capability & upgrade report

Name: i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic
Brand: i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona)

i-CAT · released 2005 · 21 yrs in service · legacy

✓ Works with Alvea. Your i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic produces the DICOM volume Alvea works from — its scans convert to a chairside 3D model with no new hardware. It runs off the cone-beam you already take; nothing to install on the machine.

Specifications

Sharpest resolution	125 µm voxel
Field of view	16–16 cm
Capture modes	16d x 13h, 16d x 22h (extended height selectable)
Detector	flat panel a-Si with CsI scintillator, 20 cm x 25 cm
Tube voltage	120–120 kVp
Tube current	3–7 mA
Scan time	10, 20, or 40 s
Released	2005
In service	21 years
Status	Legacy
Export path	DICOM export; 2D pan/ceph reconstructed from 3D (no true 2D pan). Focal spot ~0.5 mm. 426 lb
Current successor	i-CAT Next Generation
Market position	First-gen seated dental CBCT; cheap legacy workhorse with higher default dose

Where the i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic 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 16cm — 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 21 years old (2005) — 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: flat panel a-Si with CsI scintillator, 20 cm x 25 cm.
This model is no longer sold new (succeeded by the i-CAT Next Generation) — 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 (16d x 13h, 16d x 22h (extended height selectable)). Most operators leave it on one preset — the larger modes are already paid for.
Output/networking: DICOM export; 2D pan/ceph reconstructed from 3D (no true 2D pan). Focal spot ~0.5 mm. 426 lb. That export path is what lets a scan leave the machine and become something a patient can actually look at.

Upgrade paths for the i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic

UpgradeNot field-upgradeable; superseded by Next Generation (added low-dose pan)
SuccessorThe i-CAT Next Generation 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 used ~$10k-25k (rough). 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.

i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic — common questions

Can Alvea use scans from the i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic?: Yes. The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic 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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic discontinued, and what replaced it?: The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic is no longer sold new; its successor is the i-CAT Next Generation. 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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic cost?: A comparable i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic runs roughly used ~$10k-25k (rough). 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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic?: 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 i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic?: The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic reaches 16 cm, enough to capture both arches in one scan — a mode most practices never switch to.

Your cone-beam, chairside

See what a i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT Classic scan becomes.

Run the free, independent report on your exact unit — then turn one of your own scans into a 3D model the patient can see before they decide. No new hardware, no new scan.

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Independent by design. Alvea makes nothing you'd buy from a CBCT vendor — so this report has no reason to push you toward a sale. It reads your machine, not your patients. This is an equipment capability report, not clinical guidance.