New Dental Technologies

Posted on: 22 January 2015

We've all been to the dentist to be poked, prodded, and observed. Thankfully, today increasing numbers of dental offices are utilizing less invasive and more comprehensive ways to analyze the health of our teeth. These new technologies have made going to the dentist more pleasant and less intrusive.

Here are some examples of how new modern dental medicine is making the dentist's office a less scary place:

Lasers

Before, patients had to endure the dentist poking around in their teeth with a small, sharp instrument to determine if a tooth had a cavity. Today, lasers are being used to take a look at teeth more closely without the invasive feeling of a sharp tool. This diode laser can easily pinpoint trouble areas in the mouth and then determine the severity of the cavity. In fact, some dental offices are now simply monitoring the progress of teeth with laser images before moving ahead with potential root canals, fillings, or crowns.

High Tech X-Rays

Traditional x-rays are excellent for looking at teeth and determining if there is any damage. High-tech versions utilize digital imagery that shows the inside of the mouth and the structure of the teeth in much more vivid detail. This new way to perform x-rays has greatly improved the quality of the image, which also allows dentists to make better treatment decisions. It also helps them to diagnose problems more accurately and decide which method of treatment will be best for the  patient based on their findings.

CAD Technology

Computer software is now being used to help dental technicians determine the best way to fit patients' teeth for crowns. Typically with the older methods, a mold impression was taken which helped the dental tech create the crown. This mold would have to be sent off to a laboratory for the crown to be made.

The new CAD technology uses a computer program that can immediately receive and transmit detailed images and allow dental technicians to build the crown in the office rather than have the patient come in for several visits and fittings and then wait weeks for their new crown to arrive. 

Modern Materials

Scientists and dentists have worked together to develop several new materials that help preserve the teeth better, and for longer. Veneers are a thin coating that are designed to help protect teeth. The patient can barely feel them, and they're designed to help keep teeth from decay and damage. The new, thinner veneers allow patients to keep more of their original tooth. Other new materials include resin bonding, which can fill in cavities much better than metals. There are also porcelain fillings made to look just like the natural color of the tooth so that no one will notice a cavity was ever there.

To learn more, contact a company like Olympia Dental and Implant Center with any questions you have.

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