Restorative dentistry and the techniques
that help diagnose teeth-related problems have evolved far past what they were
in pre-modern times. It's well understood what causes tooth decay and how to
fix it.
Even in recent years, dentistry has seen
new innovations brought about by technology that has just now only come into
existence.
Let's look at the six biggest advancements
in technology that affect the world of dentistry.
i-CAT 3D Scan
Inspecting the condition of a patient's
mouth is integral to installing dental work that lasts for years. Some
procedures, such as implants, require meticulous planning before the work can
actually be done.
An i-CAT scan provides dentists with a 3D
model of a patient's mouth. This allows for the simplification of planning for
procedures. For example, i-CAT scans reduce the planning needed for dental
implants from 10 to 20 hours to just one.
Low-Intensity 'Cold' Lasers
Recovering from oral procedures has always
been an issue. For some patients, the recovery process can bring about
hypersensitivity, dry sockets, parathesia and post-scaling pain.
Cold lasers can aid in the regeneration
process. They work directly on teeth or mouth tissue to help “jump start” the
cell's mitochondria, which in turn leaves more available ATP for the healing
process. Cold lasers can aid in everything form inflammation to the reduction
of pocket depth and bone regeneration.
Intra-Oral Cameras
Traditionally, dentists were confined to
using their own eyes and x-rays to diagnose the condition of a patient's mouth.
While a skilled dental professional may be able to successfully diagnose
problems, these methods have always left room for error.
Intra-oral cameras changed that. They emit
no radiation and are a safe way to check for deteriorating dental work,
gingivitis, tissue injuries and other dental problems. They allow the patient
the same thing that the dentist does.
High-Intensity Lasers
Most dentists have been confined to using things
like turbine drills to remove damaged tissue and prepare a patient for fillings
and crowns, which in turn requires a fair amount of time and the injection of
anesthetic.
High-intensity lasers can be used as a
substitute for drills. They require less tissue to be removed and, in some
cases, take less time to do the certain everyday dental procedures.
Dental Microsurgery
The naked human eye has decent vision, but
it can't see the same levels of magnification that a microscope can.
Dental operating microscopes are designed
to act as a replacement to dental magnifying glasses. They can provide dentists
with up to 20 times the magnification of what the human eye can see.
Microscopes have become imperative in locating everything microscopic cracks in
teeth to aiding in procedures requiring high levels of precision like an
apicoectomy.
Cancer Detection Systems
Dentists in the York & Bay
Dental Office are trained to screen patients for a number of oral ailments,
which includes oral cancer. It's understandable that a condition like oral
cancer can sometimes be missed by simple visual examinations.
That's why dentists have begun using cancer
detection systems that actually highlight precancerous and cancerous cells in
the mouth. This allows dentists to spot cancer early and reduce the amount of
damage it can do.
The World of Dentistry is Forever Changing
As technology improves, new techniques and
tools will be created to make dentistry less painful and more accurate. Like
with low-intensity lasers, things like tissue regeneration will become
commonplace.
Even the idea of a living dental implant
that aims to replace missing teeth like nothing happen is becoming closer to a
reality as each day passes. The future of dentistry is as bright as the hope
for healthier patient smiles.
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