Page 27 - Inspire Health March/April 2017

Diode lasers can be used
to clean cavities before
they’re filled, eliminating
the need for a drill (and
reducing discomfort).
disease treatments. They’re an alternative
to incisions traditionally made with a
scalpel — and can then cauterize those
incisions, eliminating the need for sutures.
According to an article that ran in
Dentistry iQ, a trade publication for dental
professionals, some of the benefits of
lasers include reduced bleeding, reduced
pain or discomfort during and after the
treatment, decreased swelling and a
reduction in bacteria at the site of the
dental work — not to mention decreased
time in the dentist’s chair.
You may also have noticed that your
dentist is doing X-rays differently. Many
providers have switched to digitized
X-rays, which are faster and more
sensitive than film X-rays. A special
electronic sensor is placed in your mouth
to capture the image, which is then sent
to a computer for almost immediate
viewing. Other benefits include a lower
dose of radiation — the system is more
sensitive than film — as well as the
ability to check the bone supporting
your teeth and the ability to store all the
images on a computer, where the dentist
can compare them over time to see if
anything has changed.
In another advancement worthy of
science-fiction, dentists can now use a 3-D
scanner to gather precise measurements
of a patient’s mouth. The images and
information are then sent to a type of
3D printer that will quickly create a
custom-fit dental appliance — such as a
set of dentures or a bridge — saving time
by reducing the number of office visits
needed to get an accurate, comfortable fit.
Dental instruments can now “talk” to
each other as well, and even remember a
patient’s specific information. For instance,
a dentist’s chair can store the optimum
height and tilt from your last visit, then
adjust accordingly when you return.
Software can regulate the water system,
sterilizers and washers. Instruments can and crown can be placed over that. An
receive software updates from their implant can be used to replace a single
manufacturer, and if there’s a problem, tooth or several teeth.
can be checked remotely to discover the
source and solution. The process has been perfected
to the point that procedures can now
Materials for veneers — the custom- sometimes be done in a day — unlike in
made shells that are used to cover crooked the past, when a dental bridge could take
or unattractive teeth — have improved, six months and multiple appointments to
too. Now they can be made much thinner complete. Even better, pain and discomfort
than before without sacrificing strength. To have been significantly reduced, too, to the
apply a veneer, some of the tooth must be point that sometimes patients need just
shaved and reshaped; the advantage of the over-the-counter medication.
new, thinner materials is that you can keep
more of your original tooth. For more tips, cutting-edge dental
techniques and oral health inspiration,
Bonding and filling materials have seen check out the rest of our dental section —
advancements as well. Bonding — used and be sure to Tweet your favorite dental
to repair a chipped tooth — now looks health habit to @InspireHealthLV!
more natural. Newer materials are a type
of plastic resin that not only offer a wider
range of shades, but last longer, too.
Dentists have also been turning to
more natural-looking fillings. Created from
composites (a combination of glass and
plastic) or porcelain, they avoid the “metal
mouth” look of traditional amalgam fillings.
The composite is placed in layers and a
special light is used to harden each one.
Finally, the composite is shaped so to fit
the tooth, then polished to keep out stains.
Implants, too, have been taking center
stage — and are often being used instead
of dentures. A titanium, screw-like device is
fused with the jawbone; then an abutment
March · April 2017 INSPIRE HEALTH 27