Struggling to decide upon a CBCT unit for his new practice, Dr Martin Sulo received a strong recommendation for Planmeca’s ProMax Classic 3D and the Compact i5 dental unit from Colin Campbell
With a quarter of a century’s clinical experience under his belt, dental surgeon Dr Martin Sulo’s Botesdale Dental Practice & Implant Clinic is now up and running. The practice is a family affair, with wife Eve handling practice manager duties.
“We have always been based in the countryside, so we do a lot of general dentistry,” Martin explains. “But, increasingly, we do more advanced treatments.
“It all started in 2018 when we started our project to build a new practice. I met Colin Campbell and I asked him which CBCT machine he would recommend because I was indecisive, and Colin pointed out the strengths of Planmeca’s ProMax Classic 3D CBCT unit.”
As featured in the October 2024 edition of The Probe, Colin Campbell had opted for the ProMax 3D Classic as it covers the entire dentition, making it an excellent option for full arch dental 3D imaging. It includes the all-in-one imaging software Planmeca Romexis, which supports all 2D and 3D imaging as well as CAD/CAM work. 
“Colin highlighted Planmeca’s Ultra Low Dose feature, and the fantastic customer service that the manufacturer offers,” says Martin. “We had no hesitations in approaching Planmeca, and we even went to Helsinki to visit their factory.
“When I saw the factory, I was completely astonished to discover that something so big could still be family owned, not corporate.”
That was where Martin’s journey really began, with a decision made to go with Planmeca’s ProMax Classic 3D CBCT unit, as well as the Compact i5 dental unit.
“Planmeca has really lifted my practice to the next level, because we can tell patients, with a great deal of certainty, what is going on with their teeth. The 3D images are extremely helpful in some of the trickier diagnostic cases. Of course, I use the CBCT unit routinely for every single implant case, to retain the roots. I use it for wisdom tooth extractions, identifying nerve locations. It’s been fantastic and a huge help.
“And the fact that it has got the Ultra Low Dose functionality makes it all the more incredible!”
Planmeca Ultra Low Dose is a unique way to capture CBCT images at patient doses comparable to or even lower than panoramic images – as proven in various scientific studies. The imaging protocol can be used with all imaging modes and voxel sizes.
“I’m not very technical, but I mastered it very easily,” says Martin. “I can export the images and collaborate with other clinicians. It really is a huge help.”
The installation of a Planmeca ProMax Classic 3D made Botesdale Dental Practice & Implant Clinic the only practice within 15-20 miles to have a CBCT scanner.
“Initially, we had a lot of referrals, and I think we have inspired other practices to get a CBCT scanner,” recalls Martin. “I think this is because there was reluctance at first, but then some of those practices could see that having a CBCT scanner is a good investment for business. It builds the practice and improves the patients’ case acceptance.”
While Martin recommends that practices look into investing in a CBCT scanner, he also advocates for Planmeca.
“Planmeca is like the Volkswagen Golf,” he says. “They have produced these machines for several generations, improving and improving on their products. I love every bit of their units.”
In addition to the ProMax Classic 3D scanner, Martin also equipped his surgery with Planmeca’s Compact i5 dental unit. Elaborating on what he loves in particular, Martin says: “I like the wireless footswitch of the Compact i5. I like the knee break that provides comfort for my patients, particularly as we have a lot of elderly patients. The unit also has a small footprint, so it doesn’t take up too much space, and I’ve had lots of good feedback for the upholstery – it feels like every second patient, and especially our new patients, comments that it is so comfortable. I love it, and they love it.”
Compact i is Planmeca’s most widely sold dental unit family, constantly updated with new features and functionalities in order to offer clinicians around the world the best possible working companion. The Planmeca Compact i5 dental unit, as Martin alluded to with the Volkswagen comparison, is the culmination of five generations of continuous improvement, with a sleek and distinctive, user-centric design created to stand the test of time. Product development is guided by what Planmeca believes contributes to good design: ergonomics, safety, comfort, and aesthetics.
Martin has even found a benefit in the solution Planmeca has implemented in the Compat i5’s light. “This light reacts to movement. So, when I’m doing composites, I just move my hand like a windscreen wiper, and we are in composite mode. This feature is a real luxury when compared to my previous dental chair. It’s clean, it’s tidy, and nothing is dangling down, in the way.”
The Planmeca Compact i5 is ideal for both two-handed and four-handed dentistry. It provides plenty of working space for a dental assistant and offers easy access to suction tubes and other essential instruments. Since all the infection control functions are neatly organised in their own compartments, daily routines become more straightforward and less time-consuming.
“We had the opportunity to design the practice setting from scratch. So, the surgery has been set up in a perfectly ergonomic way,” Martin reflects. “There has been no compromise at all when it comes to the distance positioning of the unit’s various functionality.”
In conclusion, when considering his journey and experience with both Planmeca’s Compact i5 dental unit and ProMax Classic 3D CBCT scanner, Martin remains incredibly impressed with the family owned company that he visited in Helsinki: “Planmeca’s customer service is second to none, which is extremely valuable,” he says. “I have experienced really poor customer service with a chair and autoclave manufacturer we previously used, so, in comparison, Planmeca has been exceptional. They are always there and it’s good to be part of the Planmeca family.”
Watch the full interview with Dr Martin Sulo at https://www.planmeca.com/testimonials/
