When a crisis crops up with your oral health that threatens the status quo of your mouth, getting diagnosed quickly can make the difference to the future of your teeth and gums. Thanks to the wonderful world of technology and computers, dentist can get to work on you straight away after first taking a digital x-ray. This has replaced the old-fashioned methods of x-rays, and for the better too. It only takes a matter of seconds to have an image taken of your mouth before it is flashed up on a computer screen for your dentist to analyse; if anything is wrong, your dentist can get to work on you immediately and this can help to save conditions from getting worse. Another advantage of this is that your records can be saved to disc, which means that they can be accessed at the touch of a button for future reference. If you also have a problem that your dentist can’t deal with alone, the images can be sent via an e-mail to a person that can help you. Such great technology means that you get the best treatment you can as quickly as you require it. If you want to know more about how this brilliant technology can benefit your treatments in Bath, the just talk to the Clifton Dental studio over in Bristol: not only are they experts in all fields of dentistry, they also work the area as well.
Dentistry has come a long, long way since the old days. It has embraced technology and for you, the patient, this has helped you to get precision treatments done very quickly. One of the areas that has benefited in the shift in technology over the past 30 years is the x-ray. This has always been an amazing procedure in being able to make an accurate diagnosis when it comes to tooth decay, bone loss or gum disease. But even then, by today’s standards, it was slow. It could often take days to process an image and when it was, it would have to be stored in a big old dusty cabinet amongst hundreds of other x-rays. All this has radically changed as technology has taken the x-ray to a new level- its gone digital and this means that a dentist can have the image on a screen seconds after it has been taken. This essentially means that if the x-ray shows up any problems or anomalies in your mouth, they can be worked on straight away, saving valuable time. And, if the dentist needs a second opinion or needs to refer you to a specialist, the x-ray can be e-mailed straight away. This type of imaging is also useful for more complex procedures such as dental implant surgery, as it can locate the place the implants needs to go with pinpoint accuracy. The dentist doesn’t need to walk to that dusty old cabinet either if previous x-rays are required for cross referencing. One touch of a button and the image is back on the screen. All of this corner cutting and time saving are invaluable when treatments need to be carried out quickly to prevent further deterioration in your mouth. For more information about digital x-rays and the affect they can have on your health in Weston-super-Mare, you should contact Clifton Dental in Bristol as the serve the area.
Patients from Swindon and surroundings areas are talking about digital x-rays as dentistry takes another step forward. At Clifton Dental Studio we have embraced this new technology with open arms and we would like to spend a moment to enlighten you about the latest in dental x-ray techniques.
Part of the reason that digital x-rays are not more widespread in the UK dental industry is that the machines can be so expensive. Partly, it is simply because the technology is so new and not every dentist has their finger on the pulse of the latest gadgets! However, it is safe to say that this process will become standard in the future.
With digital radiographs, rather than using film, this is replaced with a flat electronic pad or sensor. The X-rays hit the pad the same way they hit the film but instead of developing the film in a dark room, the image is electronically sent directly to a computer where the image appears on the screen. The image can then be stored on the computer or printed out. Not only does this speed up the development process but it allows for a higher image specification than you would get with film. This means that radiographs obtained in this manner can be digitally compared to previous radiographs in a process called subtraction radiography. This is one of the great advantages of this process.
The computer can digitally compare the two images, subtract out everything that is the same and give a clear image of anything that is different. This means that tiny changes that may not be noticeable with the naked eye can be caught earlier and more clearly with digital-subtraction radiography. If your dentist does not have the equipment now, he probably will do soon!
The boundaries around what is possible in dentistry are increasingly being pushed back as technology finds ways to improve treatment quality, shorten appointment times and find more efficient ways to deal with age-old dental problems. These technological advances have gathered momentum over the past two decades with treatments available now that could only have even been imagined thirty years ago.
These advances have impacted on every level of dentistry and it is useful to give a few examples to highlight the changes. Dental crowns are artificial caps that fit over damaged teeth to protect them from further damage. In the past, crowns were painstakingly manufactured in laboratories using a series of dental moulds and x-rays. Using a combination of metal and ceramics, the crowns were built up layer upon layer until they were the satisfactory shape. The dentist would then need to remove substantial amounts of natural enamel to allow the bulky crown to fit over the damaged tooth. Today’s technology means a crown can be sculpted from a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes. This has been made possible by the advent of digital x-rays and 3D imaging which allow the dentist to create an incredibly accurate and immediate image of the patient’s mouth. A computer-guided mill can then whittle the tooth to a similarly accurate degree. This technology can also be used in the manufacture of veneers and dental inlays.
Teeth whitening procedures have also developed significantly to be more effective and much safer and orthodontic straightening has seen a similar improvement. It is now possible to straighten teeth in a fraction of the time previously thought possible, and this can be achieved more discreetly and with less discomfort to the patient.
These are just a small selection of the incredible dental technologies available to all patients at Bristol dentists. Whatever the problem or dental concern there is a quick, affordable and aesthetically pleasing technology available to give you the best possible treatment.
Dr Gerrard is a Bristol based Cosmetic dentist with many years of experience and is one of only a small number of dentists accredited by The British Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry
These advances have impacted on every level of dentistry and it is useful to give a few examples to highlight the changes. Dental crowns are artificial caps that fit over damaged teeth to protect them from further damage. In the past, crowns were painstakingly manufactured in laboratories using a series of dental moulds and x-rays. Using a combination of metal and ceramics, the crowns were built up layer upon layer until they were the satisfactory shape. The dentist would then need to remove substantial amounts of natural enamel to allow the bulky crown to fit over the damaged tooth. Today’s technology means a crown can be sculpted from a single piece of porcelain in as little as six minutes. This has been made possible by the advent of digital x-rays and 3D imaging which allow the dentist to create an incredibly accurate and immediate image of the patient’s mouth. A computer-guided mill can then whittle the tooth to a similarly accurate degree. This technology can also be used in the manufacture of veneers and dental inlays.
Teeth whitening procedures have also developed significantly to be more effective and much safer and orthodontic straightening has seen a similar improvement. It is now possible to straighten teeth in a fraction of the time previously thought possible, and this can be achieved more discreetly and with less discomfort to the patient.
These are just a small selection of the incredible dental technologies available to all patients at Bristol dentists. Whatever the problem or dental concern there is a quick, affordable and aesthetically pleasing technology available to give you the best possible treatment.
