Planmeca ProMax 3D
CBCT capability & upgrade report
Specifications
| Sharpest resolution | 75 µm voxel |
|---|---|
| Field of view | 5–8 cm |
| Capture modes | 5x5, 5x8, 8x5, 8x8 |
| Detector | flat panel |
| Tube voltage | 54–90 kVp |
| Tube current | 1–14 mA |
| Scan time | 7.5-27 s |
| Pan / Ceph | Integrated 2D + 3D |
| Released | 2007 |
| In service | 19 years |
| Status | Legacy |
| Export path | DICOM export via Planmeca Romexis |
| Current successor | ProMax 3D Classic |
| Market position | First-gen single-volume dental CBCT; small FOV |
Where the Planmeca ProMax 3D stands today
- Resolution holds up: at its sharpest (75µm voxel) it's still in the fine-detail tier the newest units sell on. You are not behind on image quality.
- Field of view tops out at 8cm — single-arch range. Good for localized implant work; whole-jaw cases need the larger-FOV path (below).
- It's 19 years old (2007) — 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.
- This model is no longer sold new (succeeded by the ProMax 3D Classic) — 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 (5x5, 5x8, 8x5, 8x8). 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 export via Planmeca Romexis. That export path is what lets a scan leave the machine and become something a patient can actually look at.
Upgrade paths for the Planmeca ProMax 3D
- UpgradeSCARA arm; FOV/sensor field-upgradeable. Rebranded 'ProMax 3D Classic' ~2013. FDA K060328 (~2006)
- SuccessorThe ProMax 3D Classic 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. 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 ~$15k-30k. 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.
Planmeca ProMax 3D — common questions
- Can Alvea use scans from the Planmeca ProMax 3D?
- Yes. The Planmeca ProMax 3D 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 Planmeca ProMax 3D discontinued, and what replaced it?
- The Planmeca ProMax 3D is no longer sold new; its successor is the ProMax 3D Classic. 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 Planmeca ProMax 3D cost?
- A comparable Planmeca ProMax 3D runs roughly used ~$15k-30k. 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 Planmeca ProMax 3D?
- 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 Planmeca ProMax 3D?
- The Planmeca ProMax 3D reaches 8 cm, single-arch range suited to localized implant work.
See what a Planmeca ProMax 3D scan becomes.
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