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This technology provides filmless pictures and reduces the exposure to radiation by as much as 90 per cent. The doctor gets instant retrieval on the computer for making a more accurate diagnosis of the problem and enhanced patient understanding of dental problems due to the enlarged image on the monitor. Computer image processing can be enhanced, changed, or reversed for better diagnosis.
This camera is used for full face pictures which are then placed into a computer for immediate magnified viewing on a monitor for doctor and patient examination of the mouth, teeth, and gums. These pictures can be printed for placement in your file or sent to insurance companies for verification of needed work.
Dentistry Enters the Computer Era
Perhaps you've heard about it from a friend or you may have seen it on the Discovery Channel; but what is Intraoral Video Imaging anyway and what role does it play in my oral examination?
Several years ago the computer industry felt that the ability to communicate was being hampered by the inadequacies of verbal communication. Most of what you listen to is either never really heard or else it is just too easily forgotten. Our goal is to inform you about your dental health so that you can make an educated decision regarding your own care. Active participation in the oral health process is a must if we are to accomplish our mutual goals.
Intraoral video imaging involves the use of a small camera with a fiber optic light source small enough to be placed within the mouth. This camera is attached to a computer which allows the images of your teeth to be displayed on the computer monitor. These intraoral images can then be stored by the computer or printed out just like a photograph.
One of the nice things about computers is their ability to store these images in their memory, indefinitely. We can access these images whenever we want in order to compare one recare examination with another. At the same time, the computer allows us to send copies of these images to other dentists or physicians thereby improving our ability to consult on issues that may be of strategic importance. A picture is truly worth a thousand words.
Some of the conditions we can see with an intraoral camera that are difficult to see with the naked eye include : various types of oral pathology and lesions, broken fillings and other types of restorations, cracked teeth, a variety of gum conditions and cavities in areas that are difficult to see and reach. You will be amazed by the quality of the images and just how diagnostic they really are.
Another intriguing aspect of imaging is its ability to use the computer to predict cosmetic alterations without ever actually having to touch a tooth. Close a space, change the shape of a tooth or just see what your teeth would look like a shade whiter. It's all possible with Cosmetic Imaging!
This technology uses an air compressor and a special handpiece that emits a fine stream of silica particles powered by a strong stream of air, resulting in virtually no vibration to the tooth. This is used to remove decay in intact teeth that have had no previous restorations. In most instances the patient does not need a local anesthetic because preparation of the tooth is painless and minimal tooth structure is removed. Another use includes the etching of the tooth for greater adhesion before sealants are applied.
This instrument uses a computer-enhanced rate of anesthesia that controls the amount of anesthesia given to the patient during a procedure. This allows the patient to leave the office with less numbness in the lip and mouth than traditional methods.
- You're about to have your first experience with a new and exciting technology. LASERS. A million questions are probably going through your mind. Perhaps you've head about dental lasers on T.V. or on the radio. Just in case you haven't had the opportunity to learn about lasers, I want to give you some basic information and maybe even allay some of your concerns regarding dental laser treatment.
- When you are seated in the operatory, one of the dental assistants will give you a pair of safety glasses to wear, position the laser next to the dental chair, and place a sterile laser tip in the sterilized handpiece. You will then be ready to go. Unlike the dental drill, there is no whining sound to disturb your sleep or to make you grip the sides of the dental chair. The only noise you will hear will be the slight hissing sound of the air jet that is attached to the laser. According to most of our patients, this silent feature is definitely a big plus!
- Dental lasers can be used for a variety of treatment procedures. Depending upon the treatment needs, your dentist may use the laser for several minutes or possibly for only a brief moment. However, even those procedures that require only a short period of laser usage, benefit from the many advantages of laser therapy. Bleeding is minimized, swelling is controlled and there is usually little if any postoperative discomfort. For maximum comfort, most of the procedures do, however, require a local anesthetic. This will be discussed with you prior to the beginning of the treatment session.
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