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| 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. |
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| Intra-Oral Cameras |
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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. |
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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. |
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| 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. |
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| Chartless Patient Data Storage |
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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.
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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. |
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Early Visualization Of Mucosal
Diseases VELscopeŽ is a revolutionary hand-held device that
provides dentists and hygienists with an easy-to-use adjunctive
mucosal examination system for the early detection of abnormal
tissue. The patented VELscope technology platform was developed in
collaboration with the British Columbia Cancer Agency and MD
Anderson Cancer Center, with funding provided in part by the NIH. It
is based on the direct visualization of tissue fluorescence and the
changes in fluorescence that occur when abnormalities are present.
How the VELscope Works
The VELscope handpiece emits a safe blue light into the oral
cavity, which excites the tissue from the surface of the epithelium
through to the basement membrane (where premalignant changes
typically begin) and into the stroma beneath, causing it to
fluoresce. Typically, healthy tissue appears as a bright apple-green
glow, while suspicious regions are identified by a loss of
fluorescence, which thus appear dark.
The clinician is then able to view the different fluorescence
responses to help differentiate between normal and abnormal tissue.
In fact, VELscope is the only non-invasive adjunctive device
clinically proven to help discover occult oral disease.
Benefits Patients, Clinicians and
Practice
When used as an adjunctive aid in combination with traditional
oral cancer examination procedures, VELscope facilitates the early
discovery and visualization of mucosal abnormalities, including oral
cancer. In one or two minutes, with no rinses or stains required, a
VELscope system examination helps healthcare professionals assess
their patients' oral health. Through the CDT code D0431, an
increasing number of insurance companies are recognizing VELscope as
an adjunctive screening device. VELscope combines minimal
per-patient costs with more effective screening.
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