Patient Information

Office Technology

Microscopes

Microscopes are available which provide magnification and vastly improved illumination to take the stress and guesswork out of many of our detailed procedures and increase our chances for success. Images seen under the microscope can be captured by high- resolution video cameras projected on a computer monitor to benefit the assistant or to aid in patient education. Color photographs can be printed from these images and sent to your dentist.

Ultrasonics

Sophisticated ultrasonic machines are used as a miniature but powerful and quiet alternative to the air driven dental drill in very small spaces where a drill could not fit. These ultrasonic units fitted with tips coated with special metals or diamonds are used to remove obstructions from the root canal, to uncover canals to expose them for cleaning, and to prepare the root-end for filling in case microsurgical intervention is indicated.

Apex Locators

Electronic monitors with liquid crystal displays are used to measure the length of the root canal and confirm the finding of additional canals. Thus, procedures can be accomplished with greater precision and with fewer x-rays.

Nickel-titanium Rotary Instruments

Traditional endodontic cleaning instruments are made of stainless steel. The new nickel-titanium instruments are much more flexible and come in several shapes designed to allow the cleaning of the root canal to be performed in a more efficient manner with less chance of harm for the tooth. These instruments can be used manually or with silent electric drills that eliminate the unpleasant noises of the dental office.

Mineral Trioxide Aggregate

Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is a recently developed material that has been shown to be much more biocompatible than previous dental materials. It is employed as a seal during endodontic surgery and repair of damaged roots. It has replaced the traditional dental amalgam ("silver") filling in endodontic applications.

Computerized Scheduling

In addition to traditional business applications for the computer in our dental office, we have found some other advantages. Our offices are now linked so that you can schedule your appointments conveniently from each office for either office. Your information is also then shared between the offices so that it can be retrieved immediately. The doctors will even be able to access this from home. Also, in the future there will be more communication with you and with your dentist by way of the computer and the internet.