Technology In the Dental Office

By Duke H. Kim, DDS, MAGD

In every dental practice there is a variety of different equipment. It is with these tools, as well as the advances in dental procedures, which allow your dentist to provide you with the highest quality oral healthcare. With today's technologies, dentists are equipped to manage your dental health, all while ensuring your safety and comfort. Learn more about common technologies used in thedental office.

Digital X-Rays

Digital x-rays can help your dentist spot a number of issues in your mouth, including decay and possible bone loss. Dentists also use this imaging during treatment planning. These digital images can be viewed on a computer screen, where it can be adjusted for contrast and brightness, allowing for optimal diagnosis. The digital x-ray process is much faster than traditional x-ray systems, decreasing your radiation exposure and eliminating potential treatment disruptions.

Cone-Beam Computer Tomography Imaging

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging can help your dentist plan for dental implants, evaluate abnormal teeth, and diagnose cavities. Also, CBCT imaging helps your dentist spot any dental trauma. This particular x-ray machine is designed to rotate around your head, capturing data using a cone-shaped x-ray beam and giving your dentist a 3-D view of your teeth, mouth, jaw, neck, ears, nose, and throat.

CAD/CAM Technologies

In the past, when you needed a dental restoration, such as a crown, your dentist would make a mold of the tooth in question and the area surrounding it and send the mold to a lab, which would then make the permanent crown. This process would take a week or more, after which the patient, fitted with a temporary crown, would have to return to the office for the final crown placement. However, computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technologies speed up this process by creating your new restoration in the office while you wait.

Dental Lasers

A dental laser is an instrument that produces a very narrow, intense beam of light energy, which is used to help remove or shape tissue in the mouth. Your dentist may use a dental laser for tooth-whitening procedures, gum disease therapy, and the detection and removal of tooth decay. Your dentist also may use a laser to remove lesions from your mouth or relieve canker sore pain. These lasers can reduce symptoms and healing times associated with a number of dental therapies, as well as help control bleeding and reduce the prevalence of mouth bacteria in diseased gum tissue and tooth cavities.