Modern Dental Technology

Dentistry has changed tremendously in recent years.  New technologies and materials have improved dentistry in so many ways, making it quicker, easier and better. The following is a summary of some of the modern technologies we use in our office today.

Ivoclar Navigator Diode Laser

Diode lasers allow minor gum problems to be treated more quickly and efficiently and in many cases with such comfort that anesthetic is not needed. With this type of laser we can clear up gum problems in minutes in many cases; and it can quickly sooth cold sores and make them heal faster too.

Diagnodent

This is another laser device, used as an aid to cavity detection. Prior to the invention of the Diagnodent, many small cavities went undetected until they became fairly large. This wavelength of laser light creates fluorescence when cavity producing bacteria are present in large numbers, and it measures that fluorescence. This allows us to find and take care of cavities earlier, before they have a chance to become big problems.

Digital X-Rays

Digital x-rays are a tremendous advance in diagnostic imaging. They give us quick, precise images with 80% less radiation as compared to conventional film x-rays. Our Sirona digital panoramic x-ray machine gives us an x-ray showing the patient’s nasal area, sinuses, jaw joints, teeth and surrounding bone. It can reveal cysts, tumors, bone irregularities and impacted wisdom teeth. Another advantage of digital x-rays is thatwe can enlarge them and alter the contrast to improve their diagnostic quality. We can also e-mail them to other dentists or specialists, allowing others to get the same high quality image instantly when necessary.

We offer several ways to whiten teeth; our favorite method is custom fabricated clear plastic trays that you fill with the bleach material (a type of specialized peroxide) and place over your teeth for an hour or two at a time. There are several other good methods, however, that we would be happy to discuss. Whether to whiten and how to whiten often depends on a persons individual situation.

All-Ceramic Crown and Bridges

In appropriate situation, all-ceramic crowns and bridges allow us to make beautiful, metal-free restorations.

Implants

Dental implants have become one of the greatest advances in dentistry in our time. The most frequent use of implants is to replace missing teeth; another frequent use is for the anchorage and retention of dentures.

Porcelain Veneers

Porcelain veneers are thin porcelain coverings that are used to improve the appearance of discolored or misshaped teeth. In some cases they can be done with no drilling.

Tooth-colored Fillings and “Bonding”

Almost all of the fillings we do in our office are of tooth-colored composite. Composites are specialized acrylics which adhere to the teeth and are very strong and esthetically pleasing. Besides filling cavities with this material, another use is sometimes called “bonding”. These composites can be made to adhere to a tooth even when there is no cavity or injury to the tooth.  This can be used to narrow or eliminate spaces between teeth, or as a covering to improve the color or shape of teeth. Sometimes it is an alternative to porcelain veneers.