Technology

Why use Digital Radiography?

Digital radiographs need only 10 to 20 percent of the amount of radiation used to expose a traditional film.  We can take five to ten digital radiographs with the same radiation that would expose one traditional film.

Digital  radiographs are almost immediately viewable.  Instead of waiting five minutes for the traditional film, we can access our digital film within seconds so that we can progress with treatment.

It is far easier to use a full screen digital radiograph for patient education purposes than a small traditional film.

Digital radiographs are environmentally much more friendly than traditional film.  The digital sensors are prepackaged in a single use cover.  This plastic cover is the only waste in the system.  Traditional film has the protective cover as well as lead which must be recycled.  Film must be processed  in developers.  Harsh chemicals are used during the developing.  The developers must be cleaned periodically with other chemicals.  Invariably, some of these chemicals find their way into our environment.  The developers have heaters which draw a fair amount of electricity.  Digital radiography uses only a computer to process the picture.  No need for chemicals and developer cleaners.  Even the electrical usage of the computer is less than of the developer.

Storage of the images is more secure in the digital system.  Radiographs are electronically filed and it is next to impossible to lose them.   It is much more likely to have a traditional film fall out of a film holder and become unidentifiable.  In the event of an office fire or flood, traditional film may be lost forever while digital radiographs would be available from the offsite backup.

Cerec

The use of computer technology to design and mill a porcelain filling was introduced to dentistry in 1986 by Sirona.  The goal was to be able to provide to patients a high quality indirect restoration ( a filling like a crown) in one appointment instead of two appointments.   This type of filling is much more durable than a regular filling in most situations.  As the size of the filling increases,  the more likely an indirect filling (like a crown) will be more durable than a regular filling.  This would have the following  advantages  to the patient :

* No messy impressions
* No temporary crowns
* No second appointment to cement the crown - increased convenience for the patient
* Restorations are tooth coloured and natural looking


Many university studies have stated that Cerec restorations are nearly as durable as Gold fillings.  This, along with advances in computer technology, encouraged us to incorporate Cerec technology in 2001.   Over the years, Sirona has continued to improve the software and hardware which has improved the quality of the restoration as well as decreasing the treatment time for the patient in the dental chair.

Dental Laser

In August of 2008, we were the first dental office in London to start using the Biolase MD Waterlase Laser. Lasers have had many applications in medicine. They are wonderful at treating many soft tissue problems with minimal to no discomfort. Healing of the area is usually quicker than using traditional methods. We can quickly treat canker sores, cold sores, desensitize structures and allow us to do fillings. In the appropriate cases, we can do fillings without using the drill except to polish the final filling. It is even possible to use less freezing.

For more information go to www.biolase.com

Air Abrasion

In 1997, we started to use Air Abrasion to prepare teeth with fine areas of decay.  A fine stream of air and tiny particles is used to blow away decay.  This fine stream allows us to remove decay at an early stage and keep the filling much smaller than when we need to use the drill.  The smaller the filling, the better for your tooth.  As fillings increase in size the need for advanced treatments like crowns and root canal also increases.  The smaller the filling the longer the filling usually lasts.   While it is possible to do a filling with air abrasion comfortably with no needles, the need for freezing is assessed on an individual basis.  Since the addition of the Waterlase Dental Laser to our office, the need for Air Abrasion has been virtually eliminated.

HealOzone

The HealOzone unit is used to disinfect decay and, in some cases, even reverse the decay process.   Since 2000, studies from Europe have been published that state the use of Ozone has helped stop and reverse the decay process in teeth.  It became available in Canada in the spring of 2004.  We decided to incorporate this technology in the fall of 2004.  We were one of the first dental offices in Ontario to get this exciting new technology.

HealOzone is a painless procedure.  A silicone cup is placed on the area to be treated and once a proper seal is achieved ozone is delivered to the area for the prescribed amount of time (usually for 30 - 40 seconds).  Depending upon the circumstances, HealOzone can be used alone or along with traditional treatments to make the tooth less sensitive and more comfortable.  When used alone, HealOzone is usually done with no dental freezing (no needles).

For more information go to www.scican.com

Periowave - How does it work?

The latest new technology that we are incorporating into our practice is the use of PhotoDynamic Disinfection(PDD) to target bacteria for rapid destruction without damage to human host cells and without encouraging the formation and spread of bacterial resistance.

After scaling, the photodynamic compound is placed into the periodontal pockets of the affected teeth.  This compound preferentially binds to the components of the specific bacteria and their toxic secretions.  A laser light is applied directly to the affected sites using a fibre optic probe.  In as little a twenty minutes the pockets can be rid of the harmful bacteria and a positive environment for healing is created.  Little or no pain is involved during the procedure nor is there any significant discomfort during the healing phase.  Most patients report a warm tingling sensation.

For more information go to www.periowave.com

Icon

Imagine being able to treat a small cavity before it develops into a cavity that needs a traditional filling.  In the past, your dentist could wait and see if the cavity developed and encourage you to floss more regularly.

Recently, an exciting new treatment in the fight against tooth decay has become available in Canada.  Through the use of proprietary Icon Resin, small cavities are stopped and treated.

If you are going regularly to the dentist small cavities can be treated and in some cases the need for large fillings can be decreased.  This will increase patient comfort, prolong the life expectancy of the tooth, decrease the cost of dental treatment and the need for more advanced dental treatment will be decreased.

For more information go to www.drilling-no-thanks.com

VelScope - Oral Cancer Screening

The Velscope is one of the most recent advances in Oral Cancer screening.  It is a hand-held device which emits a safe blue light into the oral cavity.  This light enhances the contrast between normal and abnormal tissues in the  lips, mouth and upper throat.

This is a very effective tool and is essential for early detection of various cancers as well as other tissue abnormalities.  While the Velscope is not yet considered the standard of care in dental offices, one day it may be, until then we are pleased to be one of the first to offer it to our patients at each new patient exam and recall visit.

The entire screening process takes less than 2 minutes, is completely non-invasive and requires no rinses or dyes.

For more information go to www.velscope.com