Advanced Technology
A smile is one of your greatest personal assets. We can now help you maintain and improve your smile - more conveniently than ever before! A new instrument called CEREC 3D allows us to offer natural-looking, high- quality ceramic "fillings" or "crowns". We provide the following information to help you better understand the instrument and its use.
How does CEREC 3D work?
...First, we prepare the damaged tooth by painting a thin layer of reflective powder directly on the tooth's surface. Using an infared camera we then take an image of the tooth. We work from this photo, which is actually a pin-sharp optical impression of the tooth.
...Computer Aided Design technology helps us design the restoration from the optical impression. You can actually watch us design your new restoration on a full-color computer monitor right before your eyes!
...Then Computer Aided Manufacturing creates an extremely precise restoration, also while you watch. Two high-speed diamond burs work simultaneously to mill the restoration out of a solid block of ceramic material. Finally, we bond the newly milled restoration to the tooth using state-of-the-art adhesive dentistry.
Precision Dentistry
When you seek care at our office, you are assured that Dr. Bath and his staff utilize the latest in technology to enhance the quality and fit for your dental care.
Our team use loupes (micros
croscopic glasses) to enhance the precision of patient care.
Dentistry is micro-surgery. Using loupes enables us to create dental restorations with incredibly precise fit and finish. You just can't fulfill that level of care with the naked eye.
For the most precise aspects of restorative procedures, we use electric hand-pieces. This results in extraordinarily precise interfaces between your tooth and your new restoration (crown, veneer, or filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise.
Digital X-Rays:
Digital X-rays offer more precision since we view the image on a computer monitor, instead of holding up a 35mm film up to the light. Digital X-rays results in 1/6th the radiation exposure to you.
Dr. Bath chooses carefully which and when radiographs are taken. There are many guidelines that we follow. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes. Radiographs enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth, determine bone level, and analyze the health of your bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, as well as assess damage when trauma occurs.
Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs is extremely minimal. Dr. Bath utilizes Digital Imaging Technologies within the office. With digital imaging, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs. Digital imaging can also help us retrieve valuable diagnostic information. We may be able to see cavities better. Digital imaging allows us to store patient images, and enables us to quickly and easily transfer them to specialists or insurance companies.
Intraoral Camera:
Dr. Bath utilizes intraoral camera technology that help enhance your understanding of your diagnosis. An intraoral camera is a very small camera, approximately a few millimeters long. The camera allows our practice to vew clear, precise digital images of your mouth, tetth, and gums in order for us to accurately make a diagnosis. We can place the image of your tooth on our flat screen monitor for you to see, this will help you when it comes to making a decision on how you would like to proceed with treatment.