Here at Timberhill Dental in Corvallis, we’re what we like to call a high-tech, high-touch dental practice. High-touch is how we connect with our patients and provide spa-like amenities. We want you to actually look forward to the dentist! We’re also committed to using the latest and best high-tech advancements in dental care.
By focusing on both high-tech and high-touch approaches to patient care, Dr. Black is able to provide world-class preventive dental care in a truly relaxing environment. In today’s post, we’ll look at the revolutionary dental technology offered at Timberhill Dental.
Dental Technology & Dental Care Evolves at An Incredible Pace
Recent research shows many children and young people develop dental anxiety as a result of their parent’s anxiety. And what we’ve found is that many younger people are shocked by how non-invasive and painless modern dental procedures really are. Their dental anxiety often stems from bad experiences they’ve heard about from their parents or other older people.
Dentistry has changed a lot in the past 30 or so years. Procedures are less-invasive, less painful, and more effective than ever before. Many people who visited the previous generation of “drill and fill” dentists had negative experiences. They then passed those fears and anxieties on to their children.
Once these younger people visit Timberhill Dental, they learn how far dental technology has advanced and how much of a difference it makes.
What is “Drill and Fill”?
Until recent advancements in dental technology, many dentists were limited in the care they could provide. A so-called “drill and fill” approach to dentistry reflects those limitations.
In many cases, a dentist could only hope to drill cavities and place a filling. Other options for dental care were limited to pulling teeth and installing dentures or other false teeth.
Today, dentistry isn’t all about filling cavities. Instead we focus on our patients’ overall health and preventive care. By doing this, we’re able to help people keep their natural teeth and maximize their dental health. And we couldn’t do it without the advanced dental technology available today.
Single Visit Crowns
In the past, a crown was an inconvenient, messy, multi-step process requiring several trips to the dentist. Not anymore! Today at Timberhill Dental in Corvallis, we use the latest dental technology to create and place crowns in just one visit.
These single visit crowns are just one example of how far dental technology has come. Here’s how they work:
- Dr. Black removes a minimal amount of natural tooth structure. A traditional crown would require the removal of much more of your natural tooth.
- A digital camera is used to create a 3D image of your mouth in just seconds. No goopy, messy impressions.
- Using advanced software and technology from CEREC®, your final crown is ready in minutes. There’s no need to create a temporary crown like dentists used to do.
- Your permanent restoration is placed and you’re good to go in just one visit. It’s incredible.
VELscope® Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer affects nearly 50,000 people every single year. The good news is that it’s often very treatable– if it’s detected early enough. Luckily, there’s new dental technology that makes early detection of oral cancer easier than ever before.
The VELscope® is 100% painless and noninvasive. It takes less than 2 minutes to check your mouth, gums, and tongue for oral cancer. It reflects specific wavelengths of light into your mouth. If that light hits a potentially cancerous area, it reflects back a different wavelength (meaning it turns a different color).
Using the VELscope® is much more effective than a physical exam of your mouth for to the early detection of oral cancer. Your VELscope® exam is part of in every dental exam at Timberhill Dental.
3D Dental Imaging Technology
Traditional dental x-rays have drawbacks. They’re finicky and often require reshoots to get a decent image. The plates used are uncomfortable to hold in your mouth. Even the best x-rays are often “fuzzy” and don’t provide highly detailed images.
Luckily, there’s the Sirona 3D cone beam dental imaging system. This incredible piece of dental technology is light-years ahead of traditional dental x-rays:
- You don’t have to bite down on uncomfortable pieces of plastic
- The Sirona system takes thousands of images in just a few seconds
- The digital images are HD quality and crystal clear
- Instead of flat 2D x-rays, the Sirona lets Dr. Black see your mouth in 3D
- It uses a fraction of the radiation required for traditional dental x-rays
The resulting images are much more versatile than old-fashioned x-rays. Dr. Black uses them to:
- Spot bone cancer, tumors, cysts, and the early stages of tooth decay
- Aid in the precise placement of dental implants
- Diagnose TMJ disorder
- Spot tiny cracks and fractures in teeth that are often missed when dentists rely on 2D radiographic x-rays
Plus, the images are shown in nearly real-time. You’ll be able to take a more active role in your dental care. Dr. Black can show you exactly what he’s seeing and you can be more informed about the care you’ll be receiving.
DIAGNOdent® Laser Cavity Detection
A physical examination of your teeth can identify advanced decay and larger cavities. But until recent advancements in dental technology, spotting tiny cavities was very difficult.
The DIAGNOdent® laser has changed all of that. Using harmless pulses of light, the DIAGNOdent® can help Dr. Blaxck spot the tiniest areas of decay. Why is that so important? Early detection of cavities helps reduce:
- The amount of your natural tooth structure that must be removed
- The size of your filling (smaller cavities cost less to fill)
- The likelihood that you’ll need a root canal instead of a filling
It takes just seconds to check all of your teeth and it’s just an incredible resource!
Learn More About Amazing Dental Technology
Are you interested in learning more about dental technology and how it can help you? Schedule your first appointment with Dr. Black today. He’ll talk with you about how he uses the latest technology to provide the best dental care in the Corvallis area.
Give us a call at (541) 754-0144 to learn more.
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