Advanced Technologies

High-tech tools support long-term health

Preserving a healthy smile that performs all of its functions well is an important part of long-term planning for today’s health conscious adults. Modern dental technology offers unprecedented support for this goal with tools that are gentle, conservative and proactive.

CEREC dentistry

Aesthetic dentistry advanced greatly in recent years with the use of porcelain/ceramic restorations that are strong and beautiful, with no metal substructure. Our advanced CEREC technology can add single-visit convenience to this list of benefits. CEREC dentistry uses computer, CAD-CAM design and then robotic fabrication to produce exceptional precision, strength and aesthetics. We also can provide computerized shade identification and custom staining and glazing right here in the office to better match your natural variations in tooth color.

Laser dentistry

Modern dental lasers offer a new level of comfort, minimally invasive treatment, and, as a result, healthier teeth long term. Catching and treating decay early, before this infection process spreads deep into the tissues, goes a long way to minimize long-term dental problems.

 
The Diagnodent can reveal cavities missed by X-rays.

Our Diagnodent laser uses fluorescent light to detect early decay on and under the chewing surface of a tooth. Many people don’t realize that the widespread use of fluoride has made it much harder to detect this type of cavity. Fluoride washing over the teeth hardens tooth surfaces, but bacteria can still penetrate through a microscopic defect. Decay can then destroy the tooth from the inside out. A Berne University, Switzerland, study found that X-rays and instruments are no more than 67% effective in diagnosing decay into the biting surface of a tooth, while the Diagnodent is more than 90% accurate.

Our VersaWave laser adds additional benefits to early intervention. This laser can remove  damaged tooth structure with light waves instead of a drill. As it works, it sterilizes areas of the tooth that may have been contaminated by bacteria, reducing risk of infection later on. Unfortunately, today’s dental lasers cannot yet remove old metals from teeth, but they can be used in many dental procedures to enhance precision, comfort and speed of healing.

All-digital X-rays

X-rays are still necessary to diagnose decay or infection that may exist deeper in the tooth, its roots or in the underlying bone of the mouth. Again, modern dental technology offers significant advantages over traditional film X-rays, with up to 90% less exposure than conventional X-rays. We use a high-resolution X-ray sensor that provides outstanding digital clarity and detail. Digital X-rays are faster than conventional X-rays, and they eliminate the use of film developing chemicals that can harm the environment when released into waste water systems.

Close-up photography

In addition to X-rays, our intra-oral and extra-oral cameras will help you to see what the doctor is seeing in your mouth, helping you to make better-informed decisions about your dental care. And again, with digital speed and no photo-developing chemicals.

Non-surgical periodontal therapy

Gum disease is an epidemic among adults today, the incidence rising with age. Today’s technologies offer new hope in fighting and controlling this chronic condition. The Hydrofloss at-home irrigation system is one such tool. Designed to clean under the gums with a gentle stream of water, it can reach where floss and toothbrush cannot. The device is magnetized for added effectiveness. The Journal of Clinical Periodontology has reported study results in which an irrigator with a magnetic device showed a 44% greater reduction in calculus than with a non-magnetized device.

When infection has taken hold in the gums or bone, some virulent bacteria begin to multiply in the mouth, including the most infectious and invasive bugs found anywhere in the human body. The waste products of these bacteria are extremely toxic, eating away bone and attacking the immune system.

Other environmental precautions

As in all industries, there are many opportunities in dentistry to reduce environmental impacts, some obvious, some behind the scenes. For example, dental mercury is blamed for widespread contamination of waterways in North Carolina and many other states. Our office places no mercury-amalgam fillings, but we do remove this material from teeth. For this reason, we use advanced equipment to capture mercury for recycling. We use many other methods as well to reduce our environmental impact, including a waterless dental vacuum, which can reduce dental office water use by 90% compared with traditional equipment.