Top vendors for Dental Imaging, compared

A plain-English look at six vendors operating across dental imaging — from practice-facing CBCT and intraoral scanning to lab-side optical and photogrammetry capture.

TL;DR

Dental imaging covers a wide range: 2D digital radiography, cone-beam CT (CBCT), intraoral scanners, and lab-based optical or photogrammetry scanning. The six vendors here land in very different parts of that spectrum, so a direct comparison requires knowing which part of the imaging chain you're actually buying for.

Benco Dental Co. is the most straightforward full-service imaging distributor in this group — carrying CBCT, digital X-ray, and practice-level systems from multiple manufacturers, including Planmeca and VaTech. LYRA ETK INC brings intraoral scanning (3Shape and Medit hardware) into a tightly bundled implant protocol workflow via its proprietary iPhysio® system. Amann Girrbach AG anchors lab-side optical scanning through the Ceramill Map 600+, feeding directly into its CAD/CAM milling ecosystem.

Burbank Dental Lab offers Imetric 4D photogrammetry scanning as part of its ISO-certified lab services — a niche but high-accuracy capability for multi-unit implant cases. Besmile Dental America Inc. operates at the output end of digital workflows with 3D printers and the BSM-520D 5-axis mill rather than dedicated imaging hardware. ROYAL DENTAL MFG., INC. manufactures dental chairs, delivery systems, and cabinetry — its product lines, as described, do not include imaging equipment.

At a glance

Vendor	Type	Imaging Technology	Target Customer	Location
Benco Dental Co.	Distributor	Digital X-ray, CBCT	Dental practices	PA, US
LYRA ETK INC	Manufacturer / distributor	Intraoral scanners (3Shape, Medit)	Practices, implant centers	GA, US
Amann Girrbach AG	Manufacturer	Optical lab scanning (Ceramill Map 600+)	Dental laboratories	NC, US
Burbank Dental Lab	Lab service provider	Imetric 4D photogrammetry	Labs and referring practices	CA, US
Besmile Dental America Inc.	Manufacturer	3D printing, digital output workflow	Dental laboratories	CA, US
ROYAL DENTAL MFG., INC.	Manufacturer	—	Dental practices	WA, US

How they compare

Practice-side imaging: X-ray, CBCT, and intraoral scanning

If you're equipping a clinic, Benco Dental Co. is the most direct entry point here. As a multi-line distributor, Benco can supply digital X-ray sensors, panoramic units, and CBCT systems from manufacturers including Planmeca and VaTech — bundled with chairs, supplies, and financing through a single account. That simplifies procurement paperwork considerably. The tradeoff is that you're dependent on Benco's service contracts and pricing tier rather than negotiating directly with a manufacturer.

LYRA ETK INC doesn't sell standalone imaging equipment — it distributes intraoral scanners as the capture layer within its iPhysio® digital implant protocol. That protocol ties scanning output directly to guided surgery planning and implant selection. If your practice runs high implant volume and wants scanning embedded in a structured clinical workflow, that integration is real. If you just need a scanner, you're adopting a broader ecosystem to get it.

Lab-side scanning and workflow integration

Amann Girrbach AG built its Ceramill ecosystem so the Map 600+ optical scanner feeds natively into Ceramill design software and its milling machines (Ceramill Motion Air, Motion 3, and Matik lines). Labs already running Ceramill mills gain a practical advantage: single-vendor troubleshooting, unified software licensing, and fewer file-format handoffs. Labs on other milling platforms may find the integration argument less compelling.

Burbank Dental Lab is the only vendor here offering Imetric 4D photogrammetry as a service. Photogrammetry at the implant level captures spatial relationships across multi-unit cases with a level of accuracy that intraoral scanners can struggle to match on full-arch work. This isn't equipment you buy and run in-house — it's a lab service you send cases to. That matters for how you structure referral workflows and turnaround expectations.

Besmile Dental America Inc. sits at the production end of the digital chain. Its BSM-520D 5-axis mill (60,000 RPM spindle) and 3D printers are the downstream recipients of scan data, not the capture devices. Labs evaluating a full digital workflow — scan, design, then mill or print — should verify whether Besmile's equipment accepts outputs from their preferred scanner formats before committing.

Operatory equipment vs. imaging

ROYAL DENTAL MFG., INC. has been manufacturing since 1979 under the Royal, Biotec, and Proma brands, covering patient chairs, custom cabinetry, and delivery systems. There's no imaging product in its described lineup. If you're planning a full operatory build-out, Royal Dental covers the chair and cabinetry side — you'll need a separate vendor for radiography or scanning.

How to choose

Your buying scenario should drive the vendor match:

• Equipping a practice with digital X-ray or CBCT: Benco Dental Co. offers multi-manufacturer access and bundled procurement, which is useful if you're outfitting multiple operatories in one purchase cycle.
• High-volume implant practice wanting scanning integrated into surgical planning: LYRA ETK INC ties intraoral scanning directly to its iPhysio® implant and guided surgery protocol.
• Dental lab running Ceramill milling equipment: [Amann