DICOM
Also called: DICOM file, .dcm, cone beam data
DICOM is the standard file format for medical images, used for CT scans, cone beam CT and other radiographs. The name stands for Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine. In dentistry, DICOM files from a cone beam scan are combined with a surface scan to plan implants and design surgical guides.
How it shows up between practice and lab
A lab that makes surgical guides needs two things from the practice: the DICOM files from the cone beam scan, and a surface scan of the teeth.
A DICOM set is large and comes as a folder of many files. It is awkward to email, so it travels by transfer link, and links expire.
The files are patient records, with the patient’s name inside them. They should be sent and stored with the same care as the rest of the chart.
Read more in STL vs PLY files and how to send intraoral scans to a dental lab without losing files.
Related terms
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