Technology

We have several technologies available in our office that we are especially pleased to offer.

CEREC is a term you may see or hear around our office.  If you have ever had a gold or porcelain crown placed in your mouth this is a technological advancement you will be pleased to know about.  CEREC is an acronym for Computerized Economical REConstruction.

This machine allows us to  place all-ceramic restorations in one visit.  In the past, a fractured tooth or one with large restorations and a strong potential for fracture meant making two appointments to have a crown placed.  The first appointment involved reducing the tooth to make room for the crown and taking a messy impression.  A temporary crown would be placed at that time and a second appointment would be made for two weeks later to cement the final laboratory manufactured crown.

With CEREC 3D we can now prepare a tooth, take an optical impression, mill the restoration, and cement it all in one visit.  CEREC restorations usually required less removal of tooth  than traditional crown preparations which means you keep more of your natural tooth.  The restorations can be stained to match existing teeth if necessary, making them virtually invisible.

 Ours was the first office in north central Iowa to provide this service, beginning with the CEREC 2 machine in 1998.

 

 

Digital X-Rays

Our digital x-ray system offers many advantages over traditional film x-rays.  Like a digital camera, there is no film with digital x-rays.  Instead, a sensor about the size of the usual film is placed in the mouth to receive the image.  Because it is wired to our computer, the sensor relays the image immediately to the computer monitor where it can be viewed and analyzed in a much larger size and with greater detail than on a film x-ray.  We also have numerous tools on the computer that can help with diagnosing problems on the x-ray.

One of the biggest benefits for patients is that the digital x-rays use about 80% less radiation than film x-rays.  While the radiation dose received from dental x-rays was already very small, now you can be comforted in knowing that you are receiving the smallest possible amount of radiation when x-rays are needed.

Intraoral Camera

Each operatory in our office is equipped with an intraoral camera.  These cameras are small enough to be placed in your mouth so we can take digital images of specific teeth or areas of interest. 

The images can be viewed on the computer monitors or printed onto photographic quality paper.  This enables us to show you things that we can see in your mouth which may be hidden from your view and to take before and after pictures of your teeth when treatment is completed. 

We can also send the images to specialists or your insurance company via the internet.

 

Digital Photography

We use a Nikon D50 digital camera to take before and after photos of many of our patients' teeth.  The photos can be sent to insurance companies to aid in claim review or can be used to display before and after pictures.

 

Diode Laser

For some cases we use the Odyssey Diode Laser to perform soft tissue procedures.  Lasers are useful for recontouring of gingiva to a more ideal shape for cosmetic treatments and they aid in many restorative procedures. 

Lasers cause less tissue trauma than traditional surgical procedures and heal more quickly and completely.

 

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide gas helps patients relax and makes their treatment more comfortable.  By breathing in this gas mixed with oxygen through a nose mask the patient remains alert, but is less inhibited and more relaxed.  This is a very popular service with both children and adults.  The effects of the gas disappear within seconds of removing the mask so there is no problem with the patient driving home after the procedure.

 

Electric Handpieces

Along with the traditional air driven handpieces, we have a new type of handpiece in our operatories.  These new electric handpieces run with a higher degree of torque which means a smoother, quieter,

more pleasant experience for you.  Because the "sound of the drill" is one of the most common reasons people give for their dislike of the dental office, this has been a greatly appreciated improvement.

 

Stericenter

Our stericenter is a piece of technology that impacts every patient yet is for the most part unseen.

This system has its own room and is used by our assistants and hygienists to ensure proper disinfection and sterilization of the equipment we use.  This is the state of the art in infection control.  If you would like to see the Stericenter please ask the next time you are in our office.  We'd love to show it to you.

Gingival recontouring performed with the Odyssey Diode Laser.