Technology

Adhesive Dentistry:

We offer only bonded, tooth-colored restorations (composites). We believe that the era of silver-mercury amalgam is coming to a close. The technological advancements in dentistry of the last few years have made the dream of “tooth colored” restorations a reality. We are able, not only to provide a restoration that looks like your tooth, but it is actually microscopically bonded to your tooth. While a silver-mercury amalgam is simply placed into your tooth, like cement in a posthole, the composite actually adheres to your tooth, restoring strength and function. After the cavity is removed, the tooth is conditioned with a mild acid, which opens up irregularities in the tooth surface. A bonding agent is then placed on the tooth, which flows into all those irregularities. Finally, the composite filling, which chemically adheres to the bonding agent, is placed in the tooth, and it becomes firmly bonded to the tooth. This has the effect of strengthening the tooth, rather than weakening it, as amalgam fillings do.

The Wand:

Many people dread “the shot”. Because of this we use The Wand computerized anesthesia system. This is a computerized injection system that makes anesthesia administration very COMFORTABLE! When you get any type of injection, it is not really the needle going in that causes most of the pain, but rather the pressure of the fluid being injected. The Wand uses a computer to regulate the flow rate of the anesthesia, and keeps it below the threshold of pain. This, coupled with the use of strong topical anesthetic, provides an injection as close to pain-free as possible. In addition, The Wand uses a very benign looking plastic tubing, instead of the big metal syringe most of us associate with a painful injection. This “psychological factor” also goes a long way towards dispelling patient’s fears.

Digital radiology:

Just as digital cameras are creating a revolution in photography, digital x-rays are changing the way we diagnose in dentistry. We have been using this high tech system since October of 2002, and we would never go back to film-based radiography ever again. What are the advantages of digital x-ray? First of all, it uses about 50% of the radiation that film does. In addition, we can use the software to enhance the image, just like you do with a digital camera. The software allows us to enlarge the image, enhance the image, and measure objects on the image, along with other features, too numerous to mention. This provides our patients with EARLIER DETECTION OF PROBLEMS. Because of the nature of dentistry, where we spend most of our time replacing portions of natural tissue (tooth) destroyed by disease with artificial materials, the earlier we find your problems, the less natural tooth has to be removed. Consequently, the more of your natural tooth we save, the less of a chance of greater problems (crown, root canal, extraction, etc) in the future.

Waterlase Dental Laser:

The Waterlase dental laser, by Biolase Technologies, has created such a paradigm shift in our practice, that we elected to change our name from Dayspring Dental Center, LLC, to The Dayspring Center For Laser Dentistry, LLC. What makes the laser so special? Well, for starters, many fillings can now be done with NO ANESTHESIA! Even if you are among the 10% or so of patients who still need anesthesia with the laser, you will still greatly enjoy the feel of the laser. There is no drill vibration, and no high pitched whine that makes the hairs on your neck stand up! What you will hear is a sound like popping popcorn, and a water spray. The laser itself does not do the cutting, but works by something called hydrokinetic energy. The laser energizes the water coming out of the handpiece, and it is actually the energized water that cuts the tooth. Because of this, there is no heat or vibration produced, which causes no pain in the tooth. In addition, the laser energy actually has a numbing effect on the tooth for about 5 minutes, allowing the bonding procedure to be done without sensitivity. The laser also sterilizes wherever it cuts, removing the bacteria that caused the cavity in the first place. In addition, the laser does not produce a "smear layer" on the tooth. Anytime we cut a tooth with a drill, it produces an organic smear layer on the tooth surface. This layer interferes with the bond of the composite to the tooth, and can also produce post-op sensitivity in the tooth. The laser eliminates this problem. The laser super-etches the tooth as it cuts, further enhancing the bond to the restorative material. Also, any time we cut a tooth with a spinning drill, we produce microscopic cracks in the tooth, which can contribute to problems down the line. The laser does not do this. Not only does the laser not produce cracking, but it cuts so microscopically that we are able to preserve much more healthy tooth structure than ever before. We can truly remove only the decayed areas. This is the new, cutting edge area of dentistry called "microdentistry". When using the laser to cut teeth, we frequently wear magnifying loupes to assist in the procedure. Another major advantage to the laser is that it does not heat the nerve of the tooth. When we cut a tooth with a high-speed drill and water spray, we normally raise the temperature of the nerve by about 3 degrees C. It only takes an increase of 5 degrees C to cause the nerve to die. If you have ever had a filling done, had the tooth get very sensitive and then need a root canal, you know what a small margin of error 2 degrees C is. The laser does not raise the temperature of the nerve at all, and sometimes even lowers it slightly during the procedure.
Another area where the laser is light years ahead of traditional dentistry is soft tissue and periodontal therapy. Because the laser sterilizes when it cuts, post-op infection is greatly reduced, and healing time is EXTREMELY fast. Also, many minor soft tissue surgeries and periodontal treatments can be done with no anesthesia, or just some topical anesthetic gel. Areas of periodontal pocketing that would have required surgery in the past, can now be treated with the laser quickly and painlessly.

The laser has also made root canal therapy quicker, more comfortable, and more thorough than ever before. The laser sterilizes the canal better than any other procedure we have, resulting in less post-op pain, and fewer root canal failures. It is also faster than most other root canal methods.
Some other minor procedures that can be done are desensitizing aphthous ulcers and cold sores. The laser can also be used to desensitize teeth that are sensitive to temperature due to gum recession. We also use the laser prior to sealant placement on children to clean any bacteria and plaque out of the grooves, and then to super-etch the enamel, so that the sealants have a greater longevity. As dentists, Kathy and I are always looking for ways to enhance, not only the quality of our patients' care, but also the quality of their dental experience. We have seen such a positive response to the laser from our patients. For some, not hearing the whine of the drill, removes a reason to fear going to the dentist. For others, not having to be numb for a filling, and being able to talk and eat properly right after the procedure is like a dream come true. Sometimes, just knowing that your dentist is on the cutting edge of dental technology is a comfort (only about 1% of U.S. dental offices have this technology). We are happy to ease patient’s fears any way that we can, but most of all, we are happy to embrace this technology that promises better dentistry for all our patients.
 

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