Restore Missing DEXIS Images When Files Exist But Don't Display

draft · imaging dexisimage-recovery

Generated by docuprocessor (prompt article/v3) · 2026-04-22 15:22

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thread_id: spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/TjiTgDDebpg · 8 msgs · first 2025-01-28 · participants: Tech ATech B

Tech A 2025-01-28 21:03

Hey guys, I'm a bit confused regarding this. I have this patient, from COTE office. The patient has only 2 images showing at dexis, if I open the Visible images option, I do see only that 2 images. I have all the files there, at the patient folder, but that files are not showing up at dexis. I can import them again, thing is that there are IO pictures and XRAYS together, have to check them one by one manually to add them to the correspondent quadrant. Is there something that I'm missing?

image/png image.png

**DEXIS dental imaging software** is open with patient record "Granos, Margaret" (ID highlighted in red, dated 1/15/19–). A **Windows File Explorer** window shows a network path: `Network > server2016 > DEXIS > DATA > 3 > 9 > 3 > 9 > 3`, containing multiple `.DEX` image files (000042–000079) and one `.inf` file labeled **"3→393.inf"** (Setup Information, Date modified: **1/28/2025 3:59 PM**, Size: **96 bytes**, Date created: **1/28/2025 3:59 PM**). The session is accessed via **LogMeIn Remote Session**, and the address bar path segment is highlighted in red, suggesting a folder navigation point of interest.

Tech B 2025-01-28 21:08

it happens time to time with Dexis 9. the dat file in pt's folder gets messed up and images get unlinked even though they are still inside the pt's folder. yes, you are correct, the images need to be re-imported back to the pt. but its actually easier that you think - take all images and move them to the desktop, then open pt's chart in dexis and drug them over. Since its a dexis file (.DEX), all the info (tooth#, pt name, date) is there. and to differentiate xrays from i/o images, you can look at the file names. I believe the i/o pictures file names start from letter P

Tech B 2025-01-28 21:09

whats the version of dexis? I remember this issue with versions up until 9.4.5 and dont recall seeing it with ver 9.5.1 or newer. Maybe need to update them to the latest version

Tech A 2025-01-28 21:09

Yeah, maybe there was something to do with the dat file. I will need to separate xrays panos and IO pictures then, since the files have the same name and I can't identify them easily :(

image/png image.png

The image shows a Windows file explorer window containing a list of **Dexis Image (.DEX)** files numbered sequentially (e.g., 000039.DEX through 000079.DEX), sorted by date modified ranging from **1/6/2020** to **1/28/2025**. One file labeled **DEVIS.dat** (DAT File type) is visible at the bottom, dated **1/6/2020 12:21 PM**. Files dated **10/24/2022** appear highlighted/selected in the list.

Tech A 2025-01-28 21:09

9.5.1

Tech B 2025-01-28 21:10

you can drag all them into xrays section, then click the big + to enable all 4 quadrants and drag them over between the sections

Tech B 2025-01-28 21:11

still faster then previewing them, i think

Tech A 2025-01-28 21:21

Yep I got what you mean, thanks Sergey

---
title: "Restore Missing DEXIS Images When Files Exist But Don't Display"
category: imaging
tags: ["dexis", "image-recovery"]
source_thread_id: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/TjiTgDDebpg"
source_space: "spaces/AAAA05BdS6s"
generated_at: "2026-04-22T15:22:58"
participants: ["Tech A", "Tech B"]
---

# Restore Missing DEXIS Images When Files Exist But Don't Display

## Problem

DEXIS 9 occasionally shows only a subset of patient images in the software interface, even though all .DEX image files are present in the patient's folder on the server. The "Visible images" option confirms that most images are not displaying. This occurs when the .dat file in the patient's folder becomes corrupted or damaged, causing images to become unlinked from the patient record despite the image files remaining intact in the correct directory structure.

## Resolution

1. Navigate to the patient's folder on the server (typically `Network > server2016 > DEXIS > DATA > [patient folder path]`)
2. Move all .DEX image files from the patient folder to the desktop temporarily
3. Open the patient's chart in DEXIS
4. Drag all the .DEX files from the desktop back into the DEXIS patient chart
5. Since .DEX files contain embedded metadata (tooth number, patient name, date), DEXIS will automatically restore the image information
6. To organize different image types efficiently:
   - Drag all images into the x-rays section initially
   - Click the large + button to enable all 4 quadrants view
   - Drag images between sections (x-rays, panoramic, intraoral) as needed
7. Use the quadrant view to quickly sort images by dragging between sections rather than previewing each file individually

This issue was commonly seen in DEXIS versions up to 9.4.5. Consider updating to version 9.5.1 or newer to reduce the likelihood of .dat file corruption.

## References
- Source discussion: `spaces/AAAA05BdS6s/threads/TjiTgDDebpg`
- Attachments: 
  - ![image.png](../attachments/TjiTgDDebpg.TjiTgDDebpg/image.png) — **DEXIS dental imaging software** is open with patient record "Granos, Margaret" (ID highlighted in red, dated 1/15/19–). A **Windows File Explorer** window shows a network path: `Network > server2016 > DEXIS > DATA > 3 > 9 > 3 > 9 > 3`, containing multiple `.DEX` image files (000042–000079) and one `.inf` file labeled **"3→393.inf"** (Setup Information, Date modified: **1/28/2025 3:59 PM**, Size: **96 bytes**, Date created: **1/28/2025 3:59 PM**). The session is accessed via **LogMeIn Remote Session**, and the address bar path segment is highlighted in red, suggesting a folder navigation point of interest.
  - ![image.png](../attachments/TjiTgDDebpg.nGyv6UodNrg/image.png) — The image shows a Windows file explorer window containing a list of **Dexis Image (.DEX)** files numbered sequentially (e.g., 000039.DEX through 000079.DEX), sorted by date modified ranging from **1/6/2020** to **1/28/2025**. One file labeled **DEVIS.dat** (DAT File type) is visible at the bottom, dated **1/6/2020 12:21 PM**. Files dated **10/24/2022** appear highlighted/selected in the list.

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