Technology

Today’s dentistry is continually developing ways to make your visits faster, easier, more comfortable, and better for the environment. These advances allow for earlier, less-invasive treatment, which means faster healing and recovery times and greater precision for dental procedures.

75% Less Radiation

With the use of digital X-rays, an image is taken of your mouth with a sensor and downloaded to our computer, where it is immediately accessible. We can also view your entire mouth in one image, including upper and lower jaws, with panoramic digital X-rays. These methods result in 75% less radiation than the older film X-rays. There is also no more waiting for images to develop and none of the chemical waste to pollute the environment.

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Intra-Oral Camera – See What the Dentist Sees

Our doctors work closely with patients to develop a bond of teamwork. One of the ways we bring this about is through the use of a high-tech tool called the intra-oral camera. This device is a miniature video camera that displays a closeup picture of the inside of your mouth. Patients are able to see for themselves what work needs to be done and which teeth are doing fine. They then become participants in each dental decision.

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Isolite™ – Advances in Patient Comfort

We are excited to offer an incredible new technology that makes dental care much more comfortable. It’s called the Isolite. Simply put, it’s a suction device and a strong light that illuminates the oral cavity and removes shadowing. What does this mean for you?

• Our patients spend about a third less time during treatment.
• Patients don’t feel like they are “drowning or gagging” because saliva doesn’t build up.
• Debris isn’t swallowed because the mouth is continuously being “vacuumed.”
• The mouth doesn’t get tired because it’s being held open.
• The advanced illumination helps improve accuracy.
• Modern dentistry needs a dry “field” for optimal results. The Isolite keeps the teeth and gums dry and often removes the need for a bulky rubber dam.

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Afraid of Knocking Out a Tooth?

Were you aware 5 million teeth are knocked out each year in the United States? Many sports can be dangerous without good protection. The one-size-fits-all mouthguards found in stores are not always a good fit. Wearing these, proper breathing can be difficult while being active during sports. However, custom-made sports mouthguards fit well, protect well, and may be worn for any sport. The American Dental Association suggests wearing custom mouthguards for many sports, including: basketball, boxing, field hockey, football, gymnastics, ice hockey, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, skateboarding, skiing, soccer, surfing, volleyball, weight lifting, and wrestling.

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The Laser Scanner Locates Ultrasmall Cavities Years Earlier

Have you ever had a dentist find a cavity and place a large filling, but wondered how the filling became so large if it wasn’t there just six months before? The truth is, the cavity was there six months before – it just wasn’t large enough to show on X-rays, and it wasn’t visible to the dentist yet. The laser scanner can locate cavities years earlier, when the small cavity can be easily removed and repaired with a small invisible bonded filling. Some patients complain of tooth sensitivity or mild to severe pain, yet X-rays and examination can’t pinpoint the cause. Patients may be given sensitivity toothpaste to deal with the problem. Sometimes, dentists need to perform root canals to get the pain or sensitivity to stop, when the real source turned out to be undetectable tooth decay. The laser scanner can locate previously undetected decay and, once identified, allow us to remove any discomfort and leave you with a healthy smile.

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Three-Dimensional Dentistry with Cone Beam Technology

We are proud to be one of the first practices in our area to utilize 3-D cone beam CT digital imaging. Think of this as a three-dimensional X-ray that is much more accurate than traditional X-rays, less time consuming, and does everything with much less radiation exposure.

A big advantage to ultra cone beam images when diagnosing and evaluating treatment options is the dentist’s ability to clearly view the patient’s anatomy in 3-D, instead of flat, two-dimensional images. This leads to greater accuracy for any dental treatment, in particular implant placement and any oral surgeries.

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Nothing beats an easier, more comfortable dental visit. If you have questions about the latest dental technology, give us a call today at 610-395-1630.

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