Digital Age of Dentistry
Dentistry is always evolving and changing to the point where tools that were new and groundbreaking 10 years ago are now our standard of care. Below you will find just a couple of examples of how our office utilizes modern dental technology to diagnose, treat, and maintain your smile
Digital X-Rays
Out of all of the diagnostic tools at our disposal, none are more valuable than dental x-rays.
With them, Dr Snyder is able to see not only your teeth but surrounding structures like bone, sinuses, and sometimes even nerve access. They aid in diagnosing areas of dental decay, bone loss, infections, and monitor the development of adult teeth in kids.
Without them, we would be flying blind!
It is essential to stay up to date with your recommended x-rays and it’s now easier and more comfortable than ever with the use of digital x-ray sensors.
Before, technicians had to use x-ray film which was often uncomfortable and took a long time to develop. They required more radiation and often needed retakes which took more time out of your busy schedule.
Now, with digital x-rays, we can see the image almost immediately! Right away Dr Snyder can evaluate the picture in HD clarity which aids in a thorough diagnosis.
And because digital x-rays require less radiation, that means less exposure time, a fraction of a second!
It’s so important to keep up to date with your x-rays, following the recommended schedule of full mouth and regular check up x-rays so we can provide the highest quality care for you.
Digital Impressions with 3D technology
If you have ever had braces or any kind of major restorative work, you are probably familiar with dental impressions. Goopy, messy impression material on a bulky tray that was often uncomfortable and almost always tasted bad.
While that has been the standard for decades, at Fairmount Dental Center, impressions are no longer your only option.
With the use of a state of the art 3D technology, we are able to capture hundreds of pictures of your teeth in mere seconds; stitching them together to create a 3D rendering of your smile.
Whether for diagnostic purposes, treatment planning, or sending restorative cases to the lab, 3D scanning is more comfortable, more convenient, and often times more accurate than traditional impressions.
3D scans are also a great educational tool, allowing us to present you smile case to you in an easy to understand way.
Restoring Smiles with Implants
More and more, patient’s are opting to replace missing teeth with dental implants. With implants, most patient find minimal changes to homecare, brushing and flossing just as they would a regular tooth. Because implants are made from titanium and porcelain, they can’t develop cavities like regular teeth can. They can even be used for dentures, snapping into place like a regular tooth but often with more stability. Although they are an investment, they are a more permanent option to maintaining your smile.
At Fairmount Dental Center, we work alongside local oral surgeons and lab technicians to restore your mouth to not only look it’s best, but also function again.
If you have lost teeth you depend on for chewing, notice gaps when you smile, or want a permanent solution for a missing front tooth, dental implants may be what you’re looking for.
A Picture’s Worth a Thousand Words
Once upon a time in dentistry, the only way a patient could look at their teeth was via large mouth mirrors in an act that we call “indirect vision”. The mirrors would fog up, the patient might not see what the dentist was referring too, notes relied on detailed descriptions and memory, and it did little for patient education or understanding. If only there was a way for patient’s to see exactly what the dentist could see!
And now there is! Using a special “intra-oral” camera, we’re able to take high-def pictures of not only your teeth but your tongue, lips, cheeks, and more. These pictures help us monitor any changes to your teeth or surrounding tissue, document different conditions, take before and after pictures, and even get photos of you for your patient chart. Not only are intra-oral photos great for patient education, but they can help speed up payments from your dental insurance company. Insurance adjusters can see what Dr Luisa sees which allows them to process your claim faster, making it less of a headache for you.
While intra-oral photos don’t replace dental x-rays, they do go hand in hand at showing all the different parts of your smile. You deserved to have an informed opinion when it comes to planning your care and that wouldn’t be possible without seeing that whole picture.