Services & Technology: Our Technologies
Dental X-RAYS – Dental Radiography:
The computer era has brought us an exciting new technology called digital radiography. With this technology, we use computerized equipment and software to capture x-ray images of your mouth and teeth. We do this by exposing a small sensor or plate that feeds the image into a computer.
The advantages of digital radiography
Digital radiography has many advantages over traditional dental x-rays:
- It’s faster.
- It’s safer, with no chemical development and less radiation.
- We can view images instantly.
- We can enhance images to improve viewing.
Images can be stored electronically and emailed to specialists and insurance companies.
Taking x-rays is faster because the sensor is merely moved from tooth to tooth, and your x-ray can be seen on a computer monitor just moments after exposure. There’s no waiting for chemical development, as with film packets. It’s also faster because the x-rays are available within moments on the computer monitor, with no development step in between.
The lack of chemicals also makes digital x-rays safer for the environment. Digital radiography is safe for you, too. Because the unit is so sensitive, the amount of x-ray radiation is up to 80% less than with conventional x-rays.
Digital x-ray technology enables more efficient diagnosis and treatment because it provides a large, easy-to-see image, and it allows us to make adjustments and see details in the x-ray images. The digital x-rays can then become part of your dental record and be easily emailed to specialists and insurance companies.
With digital radiography, we can offer you faster and safer diagnosis and dental treatment.
New Dental Laser Treatment:
Gives Patients Something to Smile About
Imagine looking forward to your next dental visit. Thanks to the latest in dental technology–laser treatment–that’s the case for patients at Dental Boutique. With advanced laser technology, more and more patients have “Something to Smile About” when they visit the dentist.
Laser technology, utilized in ophthalmology, neurosurgery, and dermatology for decades, is now being applied in individual dental offices as well. Lasers are introducing dental practitioners–and patients–to a new world of techniques and procedures.
“Dental lasers are actually less painful compared to traditional instruments and methods. “The laser cuts and coagulates blood at the same time, making it much more precise than a scalpel. Procedures are done more quickly and efficiently, so patients end up spending less time in the chair. And since the laser stops bleeding and minimizes tissue damage, the laser enhances patient recovery. We think our patients are really going to love it.”
Lasers are currently used for a variety of dental procedures. For cosmetic work, it is an excellent tool for gum sculpting, providing a more even, pleasing look for many patients; and for whitening teeth, with instantaneous results. The laser is also particularly effective when added to deep cleaning treatments of periodontal problems and gingivitis. In oral surgeries, the laser allows faster, more precise incisions with less post-operative pain and discomfort.
The laser is just what the doctor ordered for all ages–and even around braces. In addition, Dr. Klein holds a Class II certification in laser dentistry and has had extensive training in the techniques and benefits of this exciting new technology.
Making dentistry more efficient and precise, the laser brings perfect, beautiful smiles to patients all over the world.
Diagnodent:
DlAGNOdent is an advanced laser technology that helps us find tooth decay. We use it along with visual examination, dental explorers, and x-rays. Visual examination and dental explorers are often useful for finding decay on the surfaces of teeth. We may also use x-rays to help us find advanced decay and decay between teeth. We add DlAGNOdent to help us locate decay that’s hidden inside the tooth where visual examination, explorers, and x-rays can’t find it.
How does dlagnodent work?
The tip of the DlAGNOdent hand piece scans your teeth with harmless pulses of laser light. When the laser reaches decay under the surface of the tooth, the decay emits a fluorescent light. This fluorescent light bounces back to the sensor, and is translated into an audible signal and a digital readout. In general, the higher the number, the greater the amount of decay in the tooth. With DlAGNOdent, we can more accurately and reliably find decay in its earliest stages, before it causes more widespread damage. This early detection enables us to provide treatment before your tooth is at risk of more extensive and expensive treatment. Your restorations will be smaller and less costly, and you’ll be able to retain more of your own natural, healthy tooth.
Intra-Oral Camera:
An intraoral camera is a highly advanced innovation in dentistry that allows us to get a close-up view inside your mouth.
The intraoral camera hand piece is approximately the size and shape of a dental mirror. It has a built-in light source, so it gives us easy-to-see video and still pictures.
We can zoom in on one tooth or give you a video tour of your entire mouth. The images are displayed on a television or computer monitor, so you’ll be able to see problems such as worn or broken fillings, cracked teeth, plaque deposits, cavities next to fillings, gum disease, or excessive wear. And after we’ve treated your dental condition, the intraoral camera lets you see, up close, your beautiful, healthy teeth and gums.
Images captured with an intraoral camera can often be printed out for you to take home or for us to store with your dental record. They can also be sent to specialists and insurance companies.
You can see what we see.
The intraoral camera allows you to be an active partner in your dental treatment by enabling you to see what we see inside your mouth. With a clear understanding of your dental conditions, you’ll be able to make treatment decisions with confidence.
Snoring & Sleep Apnea:
Did you know millions of people suffer from snoring and obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) It is estimated that at least 75% of the population suffer from these problems. Obstructive sleep apnea not only causes fatigue and severe daytime drowsiness, but many other problems such as poor memory, clouded intellect, personality changes, irritability, decreased sex drive, impotence, morning headaches and many health problems. Obstructive sleep apnea contributes to cardiovascular disease, as well as conditions such as hypertension, stroke, heart attacks and heart disease.
Many studies show that those with OSA have a 15% higher rate for health problems as well as a 15% higher mortality rate. Those with OSA are three times more likely to be in a car accident.
Snoring and Obstructive sleep apnea not only affects health and quality of life, but also severely affects a spouse or significant other’s life. Many studies show that spouses slept an additional 62 minutes and their quality of life increased significantly after their partner was treated.
What causes snoring and OSA? During normal sleep we breathe air in through our mouth and nose into our airway. If the muscles of the tongue and palate fall back into the airway, they can constrict the airway or completely close it off. When constricted the air causes the muscles to vibrate, thus causing snoring. When the airway is completely closed off, this causes an apnea event to occur (stop breathing) which causes your brain to awake you to start breathing again. Thus someone’s quality of sleep is greatly affected by these continuous awakenings or arousals throughout the night.
The first and most effective treatment for OSA is a CPAP machine. Unfortunately many people cannot tolerate wearing their CPAP and end up doing nothing to help their condition. Oral appliance therapy is an alternative to CPAP. An oral appliance is a small plastic device that fits over the teeth, just like an orthodontic retainer or mouth guard. The appliance is worn in the mouth during sleep to prevent the soft tissue of the throat from collapsing and obstructing the airway. Oral appliances work by slightly advancing the lower jaw which in turn moves the base of the tongue forward and opens the airway to allow improved breathing and reduced snoring and apneas during sleep.
Oral appliance therapy is a quick and easy procedure that can dramatically change your quality of life or that of your spouse’s.