We live in a time of rapidly increasing technology. In the dental and medical field, technology helps to improve how we care for patients. This may mean that communication is improved and streamlined when you call our office, or that advancing technology helps us in surgery.
When it comes to improving the patient experience and enhancing surgical outcomes, there are several types of dental technology an office may utilize. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorites below.
3D Intraoral Scanners
Gone are the days of utilizing traditional materials to take impressions of your mouth - and make you gag in the process! 3D intraoral scanners make the process of taking impressions faster, easier, and more accurate. The process consists of a scan with a wand that allows your dentist to highlight relevant areas that are sent to the lab for abutment and crown preparation.
These scanners provide a more realistic scan experience in which we are able to better evaluate clinical situations through the use of natural colors and high definition photos.
This specific dental technology can eliminate additional appointments that would normally be necessary, which helps take away the hassle and stress from patients having to rearrange their busy schedules.
Cone Beam 3D Imaging/CT Scans
Physicians have relied on computerized axial tomography scans (CAT) for years. Today, many dentists rely on 3D imaging scans to provide them with a detailed view of the mouth and skull. 3D scans are quick and simple to perform. A Cone Beam Imaging System is at the heart of the 3D scanner. The cone beams are used to take hundreds of pictures of the face... literally! These pictures are used to compile an exact 3D image of the inner mechanisms of the face and jaw. The dentist is able to zoom in on specific areas and view them from alternate angles.
3D x-rays provide the dental team a more comprehensive view of your entire mouth which helps them locate issues that aren’t always identifiable in a 2D image. We in turn are able to coordinate treatment planning and dental services to the patient in more depth and can explain treatments with greater clarity and accuracy.
Other benefits of this specific dental technology include:
-Lower radiation dose (less than a full mouth series of intraoral film)
-A quick comprehensive scan of the complete oral-maxillofacial area (14 seconds)
-Immediate virtual diagnosis and treatment planning in one visit
-More certainty during surgery
-Easy sharing of images and diagnostic information
3D Guided Surgery
Guided surgery with 3D navigation affords your implant surgeon the most accuracy during your procedure. What does this mean for you? Minimally invasive surgery thanks to smaller incisions, and therefore less pain, faster recovery, and ideal functional and aesthetic results.
X-Guide Dynamic 3D Navigation
The industry-leading X-Guide® surgical system paired with Cone Beam 3D imaging allows us to provide our patients with the most accurate implant surgery. With X-Guide Navigated surgery, the doctor utilizes live, 3D views of your anatomy – think of it as real-time GPS directions during your procedure to place the implant exactly where it should be, elevating the surgeon’s control and precision over the entire implant process.
The Result: The ability to deliver a more desirable, functional, and aesthetic outcome in dental implant surgeries.
X-Guide’s advanced technology allows the surgeon to make the most precise adjustments considering surrounding structures with greater accuracy for a better outcome with less pain.
Dental technology is all about improving ourselves, improving results and improving the patient experience.