State of the Art Technology in Our Dental Office

Dentistry has come a long way in making patient check- ups more comfortable. With today’s technology, dentists are better equipped to detect and treat decay and perform other procedures with maximum comfort. We have added some of the relatively newer technologies to our office to help provide quality care and service to our patients. Below is a brief list of some of the tools available.

Air abrasion

Air abrasion is a conservative procedure used to remove small areas of decay or to prepare a tooth for the placement of restorations or sealants. This procedure works with an air compression device that delivers, under pressure, tiny particles of aluminum oxide to the surface of a tooth structure to blast away decay. This is similar to sandblasting a building in order to clean it.

Air abrasion is good with early decay and helps to preserve tooth structure. Discomfort is minimized and many patients do not need any anesthesia. Children and adults who are fearful of needles, noise or the vibration of a regular dental handpiece may prefer this option if it is available. Air abrasion cannot be used as an alternative for every procedure. For more details see our article on air abrasion.

Intraoral cameras

First developed in 1987, the intraoral camera is a wand- like device with a tiny magnifying lens that projects a picture from a patient’s mouth onto a screen. The image, which is magnified up to 40 times its original size, allows the dentist to see fractured enamel, gum recession, fracture lines in teeth, and breakdowns of restorations, and then also allows the patient to see the images.

After these pictures are taken, dentists are better able to diagnose and recommend treatment plans for their patients. The pictures also can provide documentation for insurance companies.

Digital radiography

Similar to traditional x-ray systems, digital radiography allows dentists to detect decay, bone loss, and help with root canals. To take an x- ray, dentists will place a sensor on the tooth that looks like a piece of film. The process is a little faster than a traditional x-ray system, so patients exposure to radiation is decreased. Once the picture is taken, dentists can adjust the contrast and brightness and enlarge/magnify images to optimize diagnosis to find even the smallest decay. Another benefit of digital radiography is the reduction of chemicals to process the film. The time to develop photos is reduced and can eliminate treatment disruptions.

Diagnodent

We can use laser technology to help diagnose small cavities that sometimes can not be detected clinically or radiographically. A digital read out lets the dentist or hygienist know if that little brown groove in your tooth is a real cavity or not.

Cerec

Cereac machines give patients a choice in restorative material. Instead of a dental amalgam (metal filling) or a composite resin (tooth colored filling); patients can now choose ceramic restorations and in one visit. Prior to Cerec, porcelain or ceramic inlays, onlays, and crowns involved a minimum of two dental visits.

But now an optical 3D image can be acquired with a small camera directly in your mouth. The restoration is created on the screen using the image data. A wireless "email" is sent to a milling machine which uses diamond coated instruments to mill out a restoration out of a solid block of tooth colored ceramic material.

This is accomplished during a single appointment using Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacture. Ceramic restorations are bio-compatible and are long lasting and durable. See more details on our cosmetic page.

Zoom

Using the Zoom Professional Whitening System, we can whiten your teeth in just one hour in the office. Instead of taking 3 to 6 weeks to whiten your teeth, you now have the choice to whiten them in one hour with ZOOM! See more details on our cosmetic page.

Invisalign

Now patients can choose the nearly invisible way to straighten your teeth. Using the latest advances in 3-D computer technology, Invisalign translates the dentist’s instructions into a series of nearly undetectable aligners. You wear each set of aligners for about two weeks, moving your teeth gradually week by week, millimeter by millimeter until you’ve achieved the desired result. They are more cosmetic, comfortable and hygienic than traditional braces. For more details, see our Orthodontic page!

Computerized Charts

Our office uses Dentrix Computerized Charts to be able to efficiently document the patients record. This insures patients that we are properly documenting clinical data, diagnosis, treatment plans, progress notes, periodontal charting, radiographs, etc in a manner that is accurate, efficient and so that everyone can clearly understand your chart in case you move to another area and want your next dentist to be able to understand your dental history.