Digital Radiography
Dental radiation in our office through the use of high speed
film has always been a very low dosage. Now with our new digital
x-ray system we can cut that low amount by fifty to ninety
percent.
Instead of showing you a postage stamp sized x-ray we can now
display the x-ray on the television monitor in front of you at
full screen size. Seeing what we see will now be a lot easier.
Digital also gives us an improved diagnostic advantage. We now
have the capability to enlarge, zoom in, and vary the contrast,
among other features.
This system is also environmentally friendly. Did you know that
dental offices are required by law to have a hazardous waste
disposal company take our used developing solutions? This is no
longer an issue!
Another advantage to digital radiology is its speed. The film
processes in seconds and is attached to your computerized
record. By storing this data we are able to submit your dental
claims electronically attaching your digital radiographs. This
means no more x-rays lost in the mail on the way to insurance
companies.
It is estimated that across the country about fifteen to twenty
percent of dental office have digital capabilities. We're proud
to be on the cutting edge and offer this service to our
patients.
Intra-Oral Cameras
An intra-oral camera is a highly advanced innovation in
dentistry that allows you to get a close-up view inside your
mouth. With the use of intra-oral cameras, you are able to see
exactly what we see in your mouth. We are able to take both
individual photographs of your teeth and moving video of your
entire mouth, showing any dental conditions or problems that you
may have, such as worn or broken fillings, gum disease, or
excessive wear. This gives you insight that you would otherwise
not have.
Another benefit to using the intra-oral camera is added
documentation for insurance companies. Sometimes there are
problems that we see visually that do not show up in an x-ray,
such as fracture lines in teeth. Using the intra-oral camera, we
are able to capture these problems and show your insurance
company what we are seeing. Often times this makes the
difference between your insurance company covering a particular
procedure and not.
By using the intra-oral camera, you are able to be a partner in
your dental treatment. With a clear understanding of your dental
conditions, you are able to make treatment decisions with
confidence.
Soft Tissue Diode Lasers
It is estimate that over 80% of the population has gum disease.
As gingivitis becomes periodontitis (oral bone loss) and the
pocket depths become deeper than 3mm, it becomes increasingly
difficult to remove the debris and bacteria. When pocket depths
reach 6 to 9 mm and beyond only your hygienist can get to the
bottom and keep them clean. As a result you have bacteria living
in these pockets that can lead to chronic gum infection, bad
tastes, odors, and ultimately bone and tooth loss. Today there
are known correlations between gum disease and heart, kidney,
and liver disease.
Up until very recently, the only way to control advance cases of
periodontal disease was to literally cut away the gums so that
the pockets could be kept clean and small. This can be a radical
and painful procedure. Periodontal surgery is something to be
avoided if a less invasive procedure is available and in many
cases laser assisted periodontal therapy provides the perfect
alternative. After your hygienist removes the debris and
calculus she will then use a laser to selectively remove
diseased and infected tissue from around the tooth and within
the pocket. The laser selectively targets the infected tissue
and leaves the healthy tissue alone. The laser also eliminates
the bacteria that caused your gum disease and stimulates your
gums to heal. An antibiotic agent such as Arestin may be placed
in selected areas after the use of the laser for even more
benefit. Another great use of the laser is reducing the
discomfort and duration of cold sores and other oral sores.
We are proud to be at the forefront in bringing you the latest
technology to serve you better. The precision application of the
soft tissue laser reduces gingival bleeding, post operative
discomfort and swelling making the laser a wonderful alternative
to conventional surgery.
Chartless Patient Data Storage
We are now storing patient data in our computer system, which
allows us to submit your dental insurance claims electronically.
By doing this, the time that it takes for your insurance company
to process your dental claim is reduced dramatically. It also
keeps the insurance companies from stating that claims where not
received. We have found that this is a huge benefit for our
patients because they don't accrue unneeded finance charges
waiting for their insurance to eventually pay their portion. Our
patients and their employers pay large premiums for dental
insurance policies and by filing claims electronically, we are
helping them to maximize their benefits.
Another advantage to chartless patient data storage is that it
allows us to transfer your radiographs, intra-oral photographs
and other data to other dental specialists when you are referred
to their office. This saves you time and money because you won't
need to take your information with you and the specialist will
not need to duplicate any diagnostic materials that we have
already collected.
There are many, many more benefits to chartless patient data
storage and this is just one more way that we are staying on the
cutting edge of technology in order to serve our patients in the
best possible way.
