Dentistry is Different Today!

What a great time to be a dentist! Dentistry really is different nowadays thanks to many technological advances. Computers and digital technology have impacted the ease and quality of care in many ways. Lasers have become commonly used tools in gum therapy and soft tissue surgery. Implants are changing the old “floppy denture” paradigm drastically and are considered as the standard of care in many circumstances of tooth or teeth loss!

Digital technology has changed many facets of dental care. One of the most significant changes is digital radiography. X-rays can now be taken using 1/l00th of the radiation that was used many years ago! We can view images within seconds and toxic chemicals are no longer required to develop films. So patients receive minimal radiation, spend less time waiting for x-rays to be developed and mounted. The images are larger and easier to look at, making early diagnosis of conditions possible.

You may not be aware that digital technology has also revolutionized certain aspects of orthodontic care. Invisalign (wireless braces) uses computer images of your teeth to “virtually” move the teeth into better, healthier alignment. We can predict the final result of orthodontic treatment with Invisalign aligners very accurately. This means no more painful braces, wires and brackets in many cases. We have patients from ages l6-75 that have done Invisalign braces and LOVE their result.

Digital technology has also made its way to the dental laboratories! Scans are made of teeth needing crowns and “Voila” a piece of machinery cuts a piece of porcelain to the exact specifications. This makes crowns fit better and take less time to place. The all porcelain restorations look more natural too!

Lasers are changing the way we treat gum disease. In many cases patients no longer need to endure painful gum and bone surgeries in order to achieve healthy gums. It is miraculous to see people that, in years past, would have lost many teeth to gum disease arrest the problem and save their teeth using various laser technologies.

In the event teeth are NOT savable it is often possible to replace some or all of the missing teeth with dental implants and bone grafting. People who were “doomed” to wear loose fitting dentures or partials can often secure these on dental implants carefully placed into the jawbone. This can also be done where a single tooth is lost! This often avoids cutting down healthy teeth to be used as anchors for a bridge or wearing awkward temporary appliances.

As dentists, we are equipped with new technology that makes it easier for patients to have excellent care and a greater quality of life. If any of these new technologies in dentistry interest you, talk to your dentist today and get on a path to a healthier, more comfortable life style you deserve!