Technology and Your Teeth
By Brian
J. Gray, DDS, MAGD, FICOI
The world of dentistry is embracing exciting advances in technology
for increased patient comfort, care, and convenience. Here are some ways
dentistry is taking oral care into the new millennium.
- Air Abrasion: High-speed delivery of "blasting particles"
to a decayed tooth can replace the drill in many cases. The fine stream
of air and aluminum oxide provides dentists with a more precise tool
for removing decay quickly, without damaging surrounding sections of
the tooth. This exciting dental treatment is also a plus for patients
because it normally doesn't require any local anesthesia. While
air abrasion may not be suitable for large areas of decay or the removal
of silver fillings, it can be used to repair tiny cracks, remove stains,
and smooth the tooth surface so that bonding materials adhere to the
tooth.
- Invisalign Orthodontic Tooth Aligners: Invisalign
is a method of orthodontic therapy promoted as an "invisible"
way of straightening teeth without using traditional braces. It instead
uses a series of clear custom-fabricated aligners designed to gradually
and sequentially move teeth to their desired positions. Treatment usually
takes the same or less time than traditional braces. Invisalign won’t
work on all cases of malocclusion but it will work on many!
- Intraoral Cameras: A tiny camera inserted into the patient's
mouth allows the dentist to show the patient the exact nature of the
problem. The image is enlarged and sent to a monitor that the patient
and doctor view together. When patients can see the specific area in
need of treatment, they're more likely to understand and accept
the dentist's recommendation.
- Lasers: Research continues at a fast pace in laser dentistry.
Lasers have been used for years in a limited capacity, but their role
in oral surgery is likely to increase.
- Digitized X-rays: Computerized technology will allow a small
sensor inside the patient's mouth to take the X-ray and immediately
display it on a computer screen, eliminating film and darkroom processing,
and reducing the radiation exposure for the patient.
- Cone Beam CT Scanning: This new technology provides
high-definition, digital imaging at reduced cost with less radiation
to the patient and a typical scan time of only 8.5 seconds. The detailed
images provide a wealth of information for many areas of dental diagnosis.
- Computers: There is a growing recognition of the role that
computers can play in dental care. In the future, patient records may
be kept on computer disks, including visual images captured on intraoral
cameras. A computerized workstation beside the patient's chair
will give the dentist the ability to view the patient's history
from disk. The dentist might also use a voice-recognition system to
ask the computer to assist in finding that data, or generate a "before
and after" image so the patient can preview the result of dental
treatment before it is done.
With a new hi-tech face on modern dentistry, patients can look forward to a
new face in dentistry and greater comfort with more "byte!"
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