By Dr. Kimberly Kau, DDS | Infinite Smile Dental
The dental industry has undergone a high-tech transformation thanks to significant technological advancements. These innovations, such as high-tech instruments and equipment, have revolutionized dentistry and brought measurable benefits. They have improved efficiency, accuracy, patient comfort, and access to care while reducing treatment times and costs. These advancements have enhanced the overall patient experience and improved every aspect of dental practice, from diagnosis and treatment to patient comfort and outcomes.
At Infinite Smile Dental, we are at the forefront of embracing these technological advancements. This proactive approach has significantly improved our diagnostic capabilities, treatment precision, workflow efficiency, patient engagement, and access to care. By leveraging these advancements, we have been able to provide higher-quality care and enhance the overall patient experience, demonstrating our commitment to staying ahead in the field of dentistry.
This technology empowers me to actively engage and educate my patients. For instance, intraoral cameras give my patients real-time images of their mouths, allowing them to comprehend their oral health conditions and available treatment options.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly utilized in dentistry for various purposes, such as detecting tooth decay, periodontal disease, and bone loss. At Infinite Smile Dental, we use AI-powered tools to assist in our diagnostics and treatment plans. The results are then documented in the patient's electronic health record for further assessment and treatment planning, ensuring the most effective and personalized care.
INTRAORAL CAMERA
Intraoral cameras allow me to capture high-resolution images of the inside of a patient's mouth, aiding in diagnosis, patient education, and treatment planning. Intraoral scanners, such as the iTero® system, create digital impressions of teeth and soft tissues, eliminating the need for traditional impression materials.
iTero® is a brand of intraoral scanners used in dentistry to create digital impressions of teeth and gums for various procedures, such as designing and manufacturing dental restorations like crowns, bridges, and aligners. These scanners are popular due to their accuracy, efficiency, and ability to streamline workflow by eliminating the need for traditional messy impression materials.
DIODE DENTAL LASER
A diode dental laser is a type of laser system used in dentistry for various soft tissue procedures. It utilizes a semiconductor diode as the laser medium to produce a concentrated light beam at a specific wavelength. Due to their versatility, precision, and effectiveness, diode lasers are commonly employed in various dental applications.
Diode dental lasers offer numerous advantages in soft tissue surgery, including minimally invasive treatment, precise tissue control, excellent hemostasis, sterilization, versatility, patient comfort, reduced need for anesthesia, and enhanced healing. As a result, diode lasers have become valuable tools in modern dentistry, allowing me to deliver practical and comfortable care to my patients.
CAD/CAM SYSTEMS
Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing (CAD/CAM) systems have become vital in dentistry. They offer precision, accuracy, customization, and minimally invasive treatment. This results in an enhanced patient experience, improved workflow efficiency, predictable outcomes, expanded treatment options, and long-term durability. Integrating CAD/CAM technology enables me to deliver high-quality restorative care that meets my patients' changing needs and expectations.
ROTARY ENDODONTIC HANDPIECE
A rotary endodontic handpiece is a specialized dental tool used in root canal treatments. It offers advantages such as increased efficiency, precision, reduced operator fatigue, and enhanced patient experience. Its primary function is to assist in cleaning, shaping, and preparing the root canal system within a tooth, which is crucial in root canal therapy to save the tooth. I can enhance the quality and efficiency of root canal therapy, resulting in improved patient outcomes.
ELECTRIC DENTAL HANDPIECE
An electric dental handpiece is an instrument I use to perform dental procedures such as tooth preparation, polishing, and drilling. Unlike traditional air-driven handpieces, electric handpieces offer numerous advantages, including higher power and torque, consistent speed and performance, variable speed control, reduced noise and vibration, improved ergonomics, compatibility with fiber optics, versatility, ease of maintenance, and potential digital integration. These features make electric handpieces essential tools for modern dental practices, enabling efficient and precise delivery of dental care.
HAND-HELD PROPHY POLISHER
Hand-held prophy polishers are essential for dental hygiene. They offer compactness, versatility, gentle yet effective stain and plaque removal, enhanced aesthetics, fluoride treatment preparation, and overall oral health improvement. Their ease of use and patient comfort make them indispensable instruments for optimal dental cleanliness and hygiene.
CBCT SCANS
High-tech imaging technologies like Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) provide detailed three-dimensional images of oral structures, enabling accurate diagnosis and better treatment planning. CBCT scans offer precise diagnostic information and improve dental practice treatment planning, surgical guidance, prosthetic design, and workflow efficiency. This information enables me to diagnose conditions accurately, leading to better treatment planning and outcomes and ultimately enhancing patient care and outcomes in dentistry.
PANORAMIC X-RAYS
A panoramic X-ray machine, also known as a panoramic radiograph or orthopantomogram (OPG), is a dental imaging device that captures a single two-dimensional image of the entire mouth and surrounding structures. These images aid me in diagnosing dental conditions, planning treatment, assessing orthodontics, planning surgery, and monitoring oral health over time.
DIGITAL X-RAYS
The transition from film-based to digital X-ray technology has improved the quality of images and revolutionized patient safety. By significantly reducing radiation exposure, digital X-rays are a game-changer in dental imaging procedures, ensuring the utmost protection for patients. Digital images can be viewed immediately with no processing delays. They allow me to focus on a specific area, enlarge and change the image's contrast, and better diagnose and plan treatment.
If you are looking for a dentist, you can book online now. Infinite Smile Dental serves the Tri-Valley Area and is conveniently located in Pleasanton at Stoneridge Drive and Willow Road.
