Technology
CEREC – Same Day Crowns
With our CEREC system we are able to complete a crown in one appointment! CEREC is a CAD-CAM (Computer Assisted Design – Computer Assisted Manufacturing) system where we create your new crown right here in our office. After preparing the tooth we take several 3D digital images and design the new crown right on the computer, the process is amazing and you’re welcome to watch the whole process. Once designed the milling machine takes over and creates your new crown from a block of porcelain in about six minutes! Once complete we bond in the new crown and you’re done, no return visit required.
Laser Dentistry
Laser dentistry is one of dentistry’s latest advances. The laser delivers energy in the form of light. Depending on the intended result, this energy travels at different wavelengths and is absorbed by a “target.” In dentistry, these targets can be enamel, decay, or gum tissue. Each type of tissue absorbs a different wavelength of light while reflecting others. Oftentimes no local anesthesia is required. In laser dentistry there is no heat or vibration, making the procedure quite comfortable for most patients. For soft tissue (gum) procedures it eliminates the need for suturing and healing is much faster.
Lasers can be used to diagnose cavities. They can find hidden decay in teeth in early stages, and in some cases the decay can be reversed through hygiene and fluoride treatment and may never need filling.
Dental conditions that may benefit from laser technology in our office:
- Cavity diagnosis
- Periodontal or gum related care
- Apthous Ulcer treatment (canker sore)
- Crown lengthening (height corrections), gingivectomy and other gum corrections
Dental lasers have been shown to be safe and effective for treating both children and adults.
Why wait weeks or even months with home whitening products when you can get your teeth eight shades whiter in just one hour with our Zoom! in-office professional whitening system. Whitening your teeth is safe and effective, and the Zoom! system condenses the process down to just one hour in our office. Your visit begins with a consultation to assess the goals and anticipated effectiveness of the treatment, as well as before and after photos to compare the results. Please see our Frequently Asked Questions section for more information.
Carivu
What if you could see through a tooth to find cavities or other problems? Our Carivu (pronounced carry-view) infrared camera does just that. It turns out that the enamel in your teeth transmits light pretty well, particularly infrared light, and the Carivu camera can read this to see the internal structure of your teeth. Things like cavities and cracks will interrupt the normal transmission of light through the tooth and show up as dark areas on the screen. If we can find a small cavity or crack early we can often treat it conservatively and avoid bigger problems later, truly a win-win for everyone.
Digital X-Rays
The days of traditional film x-rays are over; the world of digital imaging has revolutionized the way we practice. The latest technology is the digital x-ray sensor and the benefits over film are numerous:
– No more messy processing chemicals as with traditional film
– No more small films to read on a lightbox – images are now as big as the screen
– No more delays to process the film – images are on the screen instantly
– Image quality is improved
Intraoral Camera
See exactly what Dr. McGann sees! Dr. McGann has invested in an amazing technology – the mini intra-oral camera – that actually allows his patients to see what he sees inside their mouths during an exam. Dr. McGann says “It is sometimes difficult for patients to understand the need for care or home maintenance when they can’t see it for themselves. Our patients can see everything we see so they completely understand our treatment recommendations. The camera gives us the ability to enlarge images on the computer screen so we can identify small problems before they become big, and together we can decide on the best course of action.”
Intraoral cameras also enable our practice to save your images in our office computer to provide a permanent record of treatments. These images can be printed for you, other specialists, and your lab or insurance companies.