The dental industry has made some truly amazing advances recently. As a result of the most interesting advances in dental care, there are more options available than ever before that you and your dentist can use to create a healthy and beautiful smile that you’ll be proud to show off.
High-Tech X-Rays for Improved Dental Images
The old radiographs that were standard in dental offices throughout the U.S. that took a long time to develop and were often unclear are steadily being replaced by digitized x-rays that create high quality, high-resolution images. Dentists prefer these high-tech x-rays because in addition to being more efficient, they provide a clearer image of their patient’s teeth, allowing the dentist to identify problems sooner than ever.
The amount of radiation you’re exposed to is less when the dentist uses a digitized x-ray as opposed to the old radiographs.
Improved Cavity Detection
Most dentists have started using a diode laser device in order to locate tiny flaws in the enamel of your teeth which may indicate the start of a cavity. Based on what they observe with the laser, we can opt to watch the tooth and see if it develops into a cavity that will need filled at your next appointment or simply a flaw that won’t impact your oral health.
CAD/CAM Technology
Dentists have begun to rely on CAD (computer-assisted design) and CAM (computer-assisted manufacture) technology in their offices. Having this technology on hand allows your dentist to create many of the things their patients need, such as caps and crowns right in their office. Prior to this technology becoming available, dentists had to make a mold of your teeth and send the mold to a lab who created the prosthetic.
Not only does this new technology mean you can get the work done with fewer dental appointments, it also increases the odds of the caps and crowns fitting perfectly since minute adjustments are made right there in the office rather than having to send the mold back and forth to the dental lab.
Improved Bonding
In the past, when a tooth gets damaged or you developed a cavity, the bonding and filling material used to correct the problem was unattractive. Those days are over. Today your dentist uses a resin material for fillings and bonding work. Not only does the resin look better, it’s also more durable. Your dentists can blend the resin so it perfectly matches the color of your natural tooth enamel.
It’s amazing to think about how much dental care has improved in the past few years and makes one wonder what changes will develop in the future.