Advanced Dental Technology

CEREC CAD/CAM

One Visit Restorations including CEREC Omnicam

What are the advantages?

• Single-visit chairside restoration
• No messy impression materials or time wasting plastic temporaries
• Natural tooth colored porcelain filling eliminating unnecessary reduction of healthy tooth structure
• Precise computer generated fit
• 15 years of positive research
• Over 250 scientific studies testify CEREC clinical security*

*Source: Pubmed.gov

CEREC is one of the most exciting breakthroughs in modern dentistry. It is a CAD/CAM computer system which allows us to generate superb quality porcelain restorations (crowns, onlays, veneers, and bridges) in a single visit.

CEREC is a camera (Omnicam), computer and precision manufacturing machine all in one. We use CEREC’s Omnicam to take a picture of the damaged tooth. Using this image, the CAD (Computer Assisted Design) function of the CEREC allows us to design a custom restoration specific to the patient’s need and function. Then using the CAM (Computer Assisted Manufacturing) function, a restoration is milled out of a block of porcelain which is specific to the patient’s natural tooth color. The fit of the restoration is then verified in the mouth before glazing and sintering it in our custom programmable oven to increase the strength of the porcelain and providing it with the esthetic finish. The restoration is then bonded to your tooth and the appointment finished.

What this means for you:

• Single-visit chairside restoration
• No messy impressions and time-wasting temporaries that are likely to fall out
• Among the strongest and hardest porcelain available
• Highly esthetic results
• Conservative tooth reduction and preservation of natural tooth structure

 

Digital Panoramic

Panoramic x-rays provide us a large view of your teeth and craniofacial structures including upper and lower jawbones and maxillary sinuses. These x-rays are recommended starting around age 8-10, when the mixed dentition period is underway (when children have a combination of primary and permanent teeth). In our office, we recommend having a panoramic image taken every 3-5 years to evaluate changes that are not visible on other types of film to aid in the diagnosis of any pathological conditions like oral cancer before they advance. We also recommend these images to evaluate the development of wisdom teeth in young adults to check their status as they develop and erupt in the mouth.

Periapical

We use periapical x-rays to look at the tip of the roots of teeth and surrounding bone.  These x-rays are very useful in cases of trauma or for patients who are experiencing dental pain due to abscesses, resorption lesions, and root fractures.  These images allow your dentist to view a tooth in its entirety and are used in the treatment planning and treatment of endodontic periapical. lesions (abscesses) that form on the end of roots from necrotic pulps of teeth where the nerve has died or become infected from caries, trauma, or cracks in teeth.

In our office, we recommend that these x-rays are taken every 3-5 years to help your doctors optimize the diagnosis you of any said lesions and your overall dental and physical health.  Undiagnosed dental periapical abscesses (lesions) on the ends of teeth can weigh down your immune system and compromise your overall health.  Left untreated, a serious tooth abscess can cause hospitalization and even death.

Bitewings

Bitewing x-rays are the most common dental radiographs.  We routinely take 4 images that will show the upper and lower posterior teeth together.  These images allow the doctor to inspect the spaces between your posterior teeth so they can diagnose interproximal decay between teeth and check the bone levels around these teeth.  Doing so allows your doctors to properly diagnose decay and any bone loss present around these teeth associated with periodontal disease which is the leading cause of tooth loss.  We recommend having these films taken every 12-24 months, depending on your caries risk.

Digital X-Rays

Our office is equipped with advanced digital x-ray technology to deliver the highest quality images with the lowest levels of radiation.  Digital radiographs require far less radiation than conventional film -rays making them safer, quicker, and easier than in the past.  They are also more diagnostic than processed film and the images are available immediately on the computer in the treatment room allowing your dentist or hygienist to quickly and thoroughly review your films and include you in the discussion regarding findings and reasons for recommended treatment.

Dental ConeBeam CT

We are proud to have the highest standard of care in x-ray technology available at our office.  Our Sirona XG 3D Cone Beam CT machine allows us to take three dimensional images of your teeth and underlying bone.  This allows us to diagnose fractures and cracks that are invisible on traditional 2D x-rays, view pulp and nerve structures for more successful endodontic treatment planning and outcomes, diagnose periapical infections in earlier stages, and plan for guided surgical placement of dental implants.  Our Sirona XG 3D is the only CBCT company to manufacture surgical guides and when combined with our CEREC technology it allows for simultaneous prosthetic and surgical planning of dental implants with improved implant accuracy and superior final outcomes.  The amount of radiation is significantly lower than a standard CT scan and is comparable to that of a full mouth series of dental  x-rays.

What this means for you:

• Higher diagnostic qualities than conventional 2D x-ray allowing us to
• Best image quality at a lower dose
• No need to go to a specialized clinic just to get an x-ray
• For Dental Implantology it allows us to recognize case risk and limitations before performing a surgical procedure, performing implants with minimal invasion and precision using surgical guides for placement, and assessing the prosthetic and surgical conditions as the same time when combined with CEREC technology for superior final outcomes
• These benefits provide greater certainty to help us make difficult diagnoses easier, while providing the opportunity to explore new options for dental Implantology, Endodotics, Orthodontics, and more

Digital X-Rays

Our office is equipped with advanced digital x-ray technology to deliver the highest quality images with the lowest levels of radiation.  Digital radiographs require far less radiation than conventional film -rays making them safer, quicker, and easier than in the past.  They are also more diagnostic than processed film and the images are available immediately on the computer in the treatment room allowing your dentist or hygienist to quickly and thoroughly review your films and include you in the discussion regarding findings and reasons for recommended treatment.

Dental ConeBeam CT

We are proud to have the highest standard of care in x-ray technology available at our office.  Our Sirona XG 3D Cone Beam CT machine allows us to take three dimensional images of your teeth and underlying bone.  This allows us to diagnose fractures and cracks that are invisible on traditional 2D x-rays, view pulp and nerve structures for more successful endodontic treatment planning and outcomes, diagnose periapical infections in earlier stages, and plan for guided surgical placement of dental implants.  Our Sirona XG 3D is the only CBCT company to manufacture surgical guides and when combined with our CEREC technology it allows for simultaneous prosthetic and surgical planning of dental implants with improved implant accuracy and superior final outcomes.  The amount of radiation is significantly lower than a standard CT scan and is comparable to that of a full mouth series of dental  x-rays.

What this means for you:

• Higher diagnostic qualities than conventional 2D x-ray allowing us to
• Best image quality at a lower dose
• No need to go to a specialized clinic just to get an x-ray
• For Dental Implantology it allows us to recognize case risk and limitations before performing a surgical procedure, performing implants with minimal invasion and precision using surgical guides for placement, and assessing the prosthetic and surgical conditions as the same time when combined with CEREC technology for superior final outcomes
• These benefits provide greater certainty to help us make difficult diagnoses easier, while providing the opportunity to explore new options for dental Implantology, Endodotics, Orthodontics, and more

Vita Easy Shade V

In our office we use this digital shade matching system to facilitate selecting the correct porcelain material for our CAD/CAM restorations.  The VITA Easyshade V digital shade-matching device delivers the fastest, easiest way to measure tooth shades under any lighting condition.  This devise allows us complete shade control, from the determination of the tooth shade to the final restoration.  It also supports the process for professional tooth Bleaching through digital documentation of the current and planned tooth shade during the tooth-bleaching process.