These days, computers are really changing the way we live and work. You’ve probably experienced their impact in your own home. And believe me, technology is also helping raise our dental practice to a new level of safety, accuracy, and comfort.
Keeping up with all these advances is a full-time occupation that’s as important as my work at chairside. One of the most promising of these breakthroughs is an improvement on the oldest evaluation technology we have – dental x-rays.
For close to a century, dentists have used x-rays to detect cavities and damage invisible to the eye. We’ve long been aware of the drawbacks. Though x-ray radiation is slight, many patients find it a cause for concern. And reading the negative requires a skilled, professional eye-which means my patients can’t see what I see.
That’s why my office uses a Computed Dental Radiography System as an x-ray alternative. A computer enhances a “photo” of your teeth and shows it instantly on a screen. This new system requires 90% less radiation than the old film x-rays, and can magnify the image up to 300 times. It’s as easy to read as a snapshot. When I discuss something I see in your mouth, you’ll be able to view it right along with me.
This is an exciting time to be a dentist. We’re re-thinking and refining virtually every aspect of our dental practice, and I wanted to pass a bit of it along to you.
