Technology
Modern dentistry is always developing ways to make your visits faster, easier, more comfortable, and better for the world around us. The latest advances allow for earlier, less-invasive treatment, which means faster healing times and greater precision for dental procedures. And the results can be outstanding!
Three-Dimensional Dentistry!
We are proud to be one of the first practices in our area to use 3-D cone beam CT digital imaging technology. Think of this as a three dimensional X-ray that is FAR more accurate than traditional X-rays, takes much less time and does all this with much less radiation exposure.
A great advantage of using ultra cone beam images when diagnosing patients and evaluating treatment options is the dentist’s ability to clearly see the patient’s anatomy in 3-D, instead of flat, two-dimensional images. This leads to much greater accuracy for all dental treatment, especially implant placement and any oral surgeries.
Reduction in Radiation
Our X-rays are digital, which means 75% less radiation and a clear and high-quality image. This state-of-the-art technology quickly produces an image without any chemicals or waiting time for the X-ray to develop. We simply place a digital sensor in your mouth and immediately, the complete picture of your upper and lower jaws is available for viewing on our computer screen. The detailed image provided lets us give each patient an accurate evaluation of the work that needs to be done.
Isolite™ – An Advance in Patient Comfort
We are very pleased to offer an incredible new technology that makes your dental care much more comfortable. It’s called Isolite. Basically it’s a suction device and a brilliant light that illuminates the oral cavity and eliminates shadows. Modern dentistry requires a dry “field” for best results. The Isolite keeps the teeth and gums dry and often eliminates the need for the bulky rubber dam. What does this mean for you? Patients spend about a third less time in the chair.
Intra-Oral Camera Makes You a Part of the Team
We work together with you to form a bond of teamwork. Modern technology lets you be a part of the decision-making process with the intra-oral camera. It is a miniature video camera that gives a clear and close-up picture of the inside of your entire mouth. With this imaging, you can ask questions and know that the work to be performed is the right choice to keep your smile healthy and beautiful.
The Laser Scanner Finds Ultrasmall Cavities Years Earlier
Have you ever had a dentist find a cavity and place a large filling, and wonder why it was not detected at your last exam just six months ago? The cavity was there six months before — it just wasn’t big enough to be seen on X-rays. The laser scanner can find problems much earlier, when a cavity can be removed and repaired with a small, invisible, bonded filling.
Bacteria that cause decay can remain in the deep grooves of teeth even after brushing. This bacteria left on a tooth’s surface is the most common reason for the occurrence of cavities. The laser scanner’s light beam shines on the surface and through tooth structure to alert us to even the tiniest amount of decay. This lets us take care of the decay before it becomes a big problem and leave more of the healthy tooth structure intact.
The Cleanest Your Teeth Can Be
We use a Piezo Scaler™ to aid in removing deposits of plaque and calculus (tartar) from your teeth, especially under the gumline and even in deep pockets, in the case of gum disease treatments. This hand tool uses high-frequency vibrations to enable us to remove deposits on your teeth faster than with regular scaling instruments. Your teeth have never felt so clean! As a bonus, most patients report less discomfort with the Piezo Scaler.
Oral Cancer – Early Detection Can be a Lifesaver
With an estimated 29,000 cases of oral cancer diagnosed last year, a quick and painless oral cancer screening can be more than just a good idea. With VELscope™ technology, it takes only a few minutes to complete an exam and identify any abnormal cells in your mouth. The special light of this revolutionary system provides accurate detection in an easy, less invasive way that could save your life.
Preventing Bone Loss
Let’s say you need to have a tooth extracted as it just can’t be saved because decay has “taken it over.” Normally, a great solution to this is a dental implant. However, some patients may not have enough strong bone in the jaw to support an implant. This presents a problem. After a tooth has been extracted, the bone loss starts almost immediately, which will make placing a future implant difficult or impossible. Should you need a tooth extracted in our practice, we can fill the extraction site with a bone graft to help preserve the strong bone. If you decide not to have an implant, grafting can still aid in significantly reducing bone loss.
Problems with Recurring Tension or Migraine Headaches? Help is Finally Here.
Those who suffer from severe headaches are accustomed to swallowing a pill for relief. But today there is a drug-free alternative to become pain free. It is a small acrylic device called the NTI™ that is approved by the FDA, painless when in place, and very affordable. It has been successful with so many patients that it has received much media attention. Statistics have shown that 82% of migraine sufferers had a 77% reduction in occurrences.
When the appliance is placed inside your mouth, the jaw is placed in a correct position, allowing the muscles under the scalp to relax. As most headaches occur from the strain of these muscles, this device is most effective and easy to use and re-use with no side effects, no prescription, and no more headaches! Please let us know if you have problems with headaches, so we can help provide relief from this debilitating pain.
Meeting or Exceeding the Highest Standards of Sterilization
Our office takes instrument sterilization very seriously. When single-use tools can’t be used, we clean and sterilize all instruments after every use with a special unit called an autoclave. An independent laboratory regularly monitors this unit to ensure the highest level of safety and cleanliness. Your health is too important to us to take even the slightest risk.