Five Innovations in Dental Technology that Could Improve Your Next Visit to the Dentist
Did you know that being a dental professional requires ongoing education and training? Dentists go about this by researching the latest advancements in dental technology and training in these new techniques. When new developments are made, they can positively impact both dentists and patients. Innovations in oral care can reduce the duration of common dental procedures, or even expedite a patient’s healing, increasing overall patient satisfaction and comfort. Take a look at the list below to learn which advanced techniques and dental tools are currently changing the dentistry field for the better!
Researching Dental Procedures for Regenerating Teeth in Adults
At this time, dental crowns, implants, or dentures are the only available treatment options when it comes to tooth damage and loss in adults. Just imagine if we had the ability to naturally re-grow lost adult teeth! Thanks to researchers at the Regenerative Engineering Laboratory at Columbia University’s College of Dental Medicine, it could soon become a reality. A new dental procedure, currently being tested on animals, involves implanting tooth scaffolding into the mouth, then redirecting the patient’s stem cells to regenerate the new tooth in the same position as the previous one. If it succeeds in human trials, this revolutionary dental procedure would drastically reduce the amount of artificial materials used in dentistry around the world.
Increasing Patient Comfort with Isolation Devices
During complex dental procedures, dentists isolate the tooth that is in need of repair from the tongue and cheek, while simultaneously using a suction device to prevent excess moisture from building in the patient’s mouth. Isolite Systems has developed innovative tools that make all of this possible, while also improving patientcomfort. Their new devices also increase patient safety, and can decrease treatment time by as much as 30%.
Crown Construction in One Hour
Traditionally, the crown construction process has consisted of multiple steps, taking as much as weeks to complete. A new dental technology called CAD/CAM (Computer-Aided Design and Computer-Aided Manufacturing) allows dentists to outfit you with a new ceramic crown in just one visit. The system works by using a small camera to acquire a three-dimensional image of the tooth, which is transmitted to an in-house machine that creates the crown using porcelain. This procedure could easily have you in and out of the dentist chair within an hour!
Eliminating Dental Drilling with Air-Abrasion Technology
Of the many dental tools used during oral treatment, there is one particular tool that can often be blamed for many patients’ dental fears – the drill. A new treatment method called air-abrasion employs the Kinetic Cavity Preparation (or KCP) system, which emits a stream of microscopically-fine powder and gently sprays away decay on tooth surfaces. Because this dental procedure greatly reduces heat and vibrations in comparison to the traditional drill, there’s very little discomfort to the patient and little need for anesthesia. In addition, this form of “drill-less dentistry” enables dentists to treat decay at an earlier stage and preserve more of the tooth’s original structure.
Detecting Oral Cancer Using Blue-Spectrum Light
Dentists are also discovering new, more advanced methods of detecting oral cancer at its earliest stages, using blue-spectrum light technology. The VELscope Vx system is becoming an increasingly popular dental tool that quickly and painlessly allows dentists to examine deep within a patient’s oral tissue. The dental procedure causes molecules inside the mouth to emit light in differing shades of color, helping dental professionals more accurately visualize abnormalities that may indicate oral cancer.
Innovative Dental Technologies Ensure Patient Comfort & Improve Care
With such advances in dental technology, dentists are continually striving to ensure your comfort as well as your oral health. Whether you’re receiving an in-depth procedure or simply a routine check-up, our dentists want to provide you with the safest and most state-of-the-art treatment available. Call us today at (770) 777-1911 to schedule an appointment with one of our highly-trained dentists, who strive to ensure your experience is a relaxing one.
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