Author: infogenix

At your routine dental checkup, you’re used to having X-rays taken of your teeth, but during this visit, your dentist tells you they want to have images taken with their cone beam CT scanner. You’ve probably heard of medical doctors using CT scans, and now more and more dentists utilize this piece of technology too. Why are cone beam CT scanners becoming more widely used by dentists in their practices? Here are three reasons!

Multiple Purposes and Uses

At the store, you’ll find a million devices for each task you can complete in the kitchen, but isn’t it nice when you can invest in one piece of equipment that fulfills several purposes at once? Although a cone beam CT scanner is most famously known for providing detailed imaging for planning dental implants, dentists can utilize this technology for various issues, including evaluating your temporomandibular joint (TMJ) if you have jaw pain. By taking advantage of this device, your dentist can provide better care for many different problems, not just dental implants.

More Accurate Diagnoses

Digital X-rays have come a long way, but like their traditional counterpart, they still mainly reveal tooth and bone structures. And even then, these images do not show all the information needed to make definitive diagnoses.

When diagnosing TMJ disorder, for example, X-rays do not look at the overall bite and muscles, just one section of the patient’s teeth. To get a fuller understanding and “see the bigger picture,” your dentist needs to look at your entire oral cavity, which only a cone beam CT scanner can provide.

In the case of dental implants, a dentist can use this technology to find out if bone grafts or other preliminary procedures are necessary to increase the chances of successful implant placement.

More Precise Planning

Prior to performing complex dental procedures, your dentist needs to be as prepared as possible. After all, you wouldn’t want them to go into a surgical procedure blind! Having a detailed map of your oral cavity tells them where they should work to avoid blood vessels, nerve endings, and other oral structures. Armed with the kind of information a cone beam CT scanner offers, your dentist can reduce complications, like excessive bleeding and infection, and make the recovery easier and smoother.

In the end, your dentist wants to deliver the best possible treatment, and the truth is that a cone beam CT scanner enables them to do just that. If they have and take advantage of this technology, you can have peace of mind that your care and comfort are at the top of their priority list.

About the Practice

In their practice, Dr. Stacy and Dr. Jessica Dean have invested in the industry’s most cutting-edge technology, including a cone beam CT scanner as well as laser dentistry and more. As a result, patients can expect state-of-the-art treatment under one roof. If you have questions about the technology we use to make your dental visits better, don’t hesitate to reach out to us online or call our Washington office at 724-204-5882.

Dental techniques and technology are becoming more advanced each year. One of the newer innovations in dentistry is the development of laser dentistry. Laser dentistry is the use of lasers to perform various dental techniques that once required the use of other tools, like scalpels or drills. This can result in more comfortable and effective treatments and many more benefits. Continue reading to learn about some of the benefits of laser dentistry.

Healing Times

Traditional dental tools are effective, but they can lead to longer healing times. Laser dentistry expedites the healing process. This is because as the highly concentrated beam of light comes into contact with soft tissues, it cauterizes them along the way. This means that you can get back to your busy schedule quicker.

Minimized Discomfort

Your dentist will always do everything in their power to make your treatment as comfortable as possible. However, there are some procedures that can leave you with some temporary soreness. Since laser dentistry doesn’t use sharp, hard dental tools, you can expect it to be comfortable. You might not even require a local anesthetic depending on the procedure you are undergoing.

More Precision

One of the amazing benefits of addressing dental issues with a laser is that there is a much lower risk of damaging the surrounding tissues. This is because lasers are incredibly precise. It ensures that all surrounding tissue can remain untouched.

Less Bleeding

Bleeding and swollen gums often follow soft tissue dental treatment. However, if a dental laser is used for your procedure, it will promote blood clotting, reducing the amount of bleeding that you experience when the procedure is complete.

Fewer Sutures

Many people dread the dissolvable stitches that can be uncomfortable during the healing process. The use of a laser encourages the blood in your tissue to naturally clot on its own. Because of this, there is less of a need for dental sutures. You can just let your body do the work. In addition to saving you money and discomfort, it also shortens your treatment time.

Ideal for Sensitivity

Are your teeth especially sensitive when you drink hot and cold beverages or when you brush your teeth? Approximately 1 out of every 8 adults has sensitive teeth. This means that laser dentistry could be an excellent solution for you! Laser dentistry can make certain procedures more comfortable for patients – especially those with sensitivity.

Dentistry has come a long way, and laser dentistry is something to take advantage of! If you are seeking wrinkle treatment, relief from TMD, gum disease treatment, or gum recontouring, treatment using a dental laser could be the ideal option for you!

About the Practice

At Dean Dental, sisters Dr. Stacy Dean and Dr. Jessica Dean work together to serve the Washington community. With their combined experience and expertise, patients can get pretty much anything they need under one roof. They use the Waterlase™ all-tissue laser and Epic X™ diode laser to complete a variety of procedures at their practice. To learn more about laser dentistry or to schedule an appointment, visit their website or call (724) 204-5858.

Now that the new year is approaching, you might naturally be thinking a little bit about what you could be improving. One thing that people often put on the back burner and that you might want to reconsider is your oral health; even if you’re brushing twice a day or flossing daily, there could be ways in which you’re neglecting your teeth.

For example, many people don’t see their dentist often enough for checkups or cleanings. If that sounds like you, you’re in luck; the beginning of the year is the perfect time to see the dentist for preventive care, especially if you have dental insurance. Here’s why.

Care Without a Deductible

As you may know, a feature of dental insurance is the deductible. This is the amount of money that you’ll have to pay before your insurance begins to cover your dental care.

However, in the case of dental insurance, preventive treatments are often excluded from this. Most of the time, you’ll be able to have your checkup or cleaning paid for without needing to meet your deductible first, making it one of the easiest ways to see the dentist early in the year.

Using Both Appointments

In some cases, dental plans will provide you with a certain number of preventive visits each year. Most dentists recommend that you visit them for two routine cleanings, so this is the standard for insurance companies that operate this way.

If you only see your dentist for one cleaning, or not at all, that’s money that you’re leaving on the table. By getting your checkup early in the year, you have a better chance of using all of the preventive appointments provided to you.

Meeting the Present

Ultimately, there isn’t a bad time to get a dental checkup. No matter how thorough you are with brushing and flossing, there are areas of bacterial buildup that you won’t be able to reach on your own.

Now that the new year is here, you can seize the present and get the care that you need. Who knows? You may even start a new healthy habit.

About Our Practice

At Dean Dental, we are enormously proud of our work. We offer compassion and dedication to our patients that can be hard to find at other dental practices, and when you visit our office, the difference will be immediately apparent. The aim of our woman-led dental team is to provide people with smiles that last, and to continue to do so for many years to come.

If you have any questions about dental insurance, we can be reached at our website or by phone at (724) 204-5858.