Did you know toothpaste was developed in 1850? It’s incredible to see how far we’ve developed in dentistry since then. We all know and love technology, and use various kinds everyday for all kinds of tasks. In a dental office, technology has helped make dental care more comfortable and more advanced than it’s ever been before. We believe that having the newest equipment is vital in making our patients feel comfortable. We have the technology to make your treatments more effective, and also more gentle on your mouth. What latest technology do we have and what do we use them for? Keep reading to find out.
We all love technology and use it everyday. From our cell phones to our iPads and computers, but technology goes much further than that. Britannica formally defines it as:
Technology: The application of scientific knowledge of practical aims of human life or, as it is sometimes phrased, to the change and manipulation of the human environment.
In order for us here at Stonebrook Family Dental to give our patients the most comfortable and advanced treatments, we incorporate the state-of-the-art technology for dental care. The technology we use not only makes your appointment go more quickly, but it also makes the treatments more accurate.
We use a variety of different technologies to give you unparalleled patient care. The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages dentists to talk with their patients about the need for X-rays to better help make treatment plan decisions together. Some of the technology we use, include:
This digital X-ray with our handheld X-ray devices are faster and give our patients a much more comfortable appointment time than conventional X-rays. This X-ray allows the dentist to diagnose the patient more effectively and accurately because they produce high-resolution images.
This device also transmits 90% less radiation than your typical X-ray machine. Radiation exposure associated with dental care is only a minor contributor to the total number of radiation exposure when compared to other sources, according to the ADA.
Since the NOMAD Handheld X-ray Device is digital, it also eliminates the need for chemical processing because of it’s digital nature – so it’s not only good for you, but for the environment too!
More and more health care practitioners in our world today use videos and cameras within their practices to help them provide better healthcare for their patients. In dentistry, one of the most beneficial devices is the intraoral camera. This camera is used to examine the teeth and mouth in places that is hard for the dentist to see with their bare eyes. This form of photography has continued to advance over the years, and now the images we receive from them are crisp, clear, and detailed so Dr. Varley can make the best choices for your dental care. This also helps Dr. Varley show you what’s being seen and talk you through the entire appointment.
Both of these devices are critical in our dental office. We use these together to get a better look at your mouth. By using them, we can look inside the teeth, under the gums, and can even see the bones in your jaw. With the camera, Dr. Varley can also see the condition of your enamel and the soft tissues like your tongue and gums.
This technology zooms in on the teeth, and helps produce an image that can be up to 50x it’s actual size. Because we can enlarge the images in great detail, it’s also easier to catch cavities, cracks, and other problems that conventional X-rays won’t be able to show the dentist and the patient.
In short, yes! Dental X-rays and the technology used here at Stonebrook Family Dental are safe for your children. We know that an X-ray can seem daunting and not suitable for your child’s mouth, however this plays a huge role in your children’s dental care because it allows us to make sure that they’re developing like they should.
If you’re expecting, we will avoid X-rays during your pregnancy. It’s important to let the dentist and the team know if you’re pregnant so we can help keep you and your baby safe. If you are having serious dental problems, alternative devices – like an ultrasound scan – can be used.
We pride ourselves on providing state-of-the-art dental care for you and your family, and we do that by using technology and other methods. With us, you can count on getting the best dentistry treatment around. If you’re ready to learn more about dental technology and how our available treatments could help you, call us at (303)-872-7907.