i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX
CBCT capability & upgrade report
Specifications
| Sharpest resolution | 125 µm voxel |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 5–23 cm |
| Capture modes | 16d x 13h (standard), 23d x 17h (extended, full ceph-height), FLX MV compact: 8.5x4, 8.5x8.5, 15.5x6, 15.5x8.5 cm |
| Detector | amorphous silicon flat panel with CsI |
| Tube voltage | 120–120 kVp |
| Tube current | 3–7 mA |
| Scan time | 4.8 s (full ceph-height QuickScan) to 26.9 s |
| Pan / Ceph | Integrated 2D + 3D |
| Released | 2013 |
| In service | 13 years |
| Status | Discontinued |
| Export path | DICOM; true 2D pan (i-PAN) on same sensor; ceph reconstructed |
| Current successor | i-CAT FLX V-Series |
| Market position | Breakthrough low-dose FLX generation - QuickScan+ made CBCT dose competitive with panoramic |
Where the i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX 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 23cm — 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 13 years old (2013) — 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: amorphous silicon flat panel with CsI.
- This model is no longer sold new (succeeded by the i-CAT FLX V-Series) — 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 (standard), 23d x 17h (extended, full ceph-height), FLX MV compact: 8.5x4, 8.5x8.5, 15.5x6, 15.5x8.5 cm). Most operators leave it on one preset — the larger modes are already paid for.
- The same unit does panoramic/ceph as well as 3D — one capture surface you may be sending out for.
- Output/networking: DICOM; true 2D pan (i-PAN) on same sensor; ceph reconstructed. 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 FLX
- UpgradeIntroduced QuickScan+ (full 3D at dose comparable to 2D pan). Motorized gantry; true 2D pan via i-PAN
- SuccessorThe i-CAT FLX V-Series 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 ~$30k-55k (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 FLX — common questions
- Can Alvea use scans from the i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX?
- Yes. The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX 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 FLX discontinued, and what replaced it?
- The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX is no longer sold new; its successor is the i-CAT FLX V-Series. 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 FLX cost?
- A comparable i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX runs roughly used ~$30k-55k (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 FLX?
- 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 FLX?
- The i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX reaches 23 cm, enough to capture both arches in one scan — a mode most practices never switch to.
See what a i-CAT (Dentsply Sirona) i-CAT FLX 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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