While technological advances alone do not guarantee superior quality of care, certain state-of-the-art technologies allow us to better offer our patients precise, efficient, and more conservative treatment for their benefit.
In addition to providing a state-of-the-art dental facility that is welcoming and comfortable, Dr. Amber Allen and her staff truly enjoy their profession and genuinely care about your teeth and overall health. Here are some of the advanced technologies that Dr. Allen utilizes to ensure that your visit is as pleasant as possible.
Crowns in One Day
The process of completing a crown used to be quite lengthy. It required at least two long appointments with your dentist, with a wait time of 2 to 4 weeks in between. It was often hard for patients to fit this treatment into their busy schedules.
Dr. Allen is excited to provide her patients with same-day crowns using innovative E4D technology. E4D uses 3-D imaging to scan a picture of your tooth, which Dr. Allen uses to design and fabricate your new tooth here at our office while you wait. Your new restoration is made of high quality porcelain, which provides an excellent fit, durability, and esthetics.
What this means for you is that you'll leave our office after one visit with a beautiful and fully functioning crown that you can be proud of.
Digital X-Rays
Digital x-rays are taken in much the same manner as you are used to; however, these pictures of your teeth then appear almost immediately on a computer screen so you can view them with Dr. Allen.
One of the biggest advantages of digital x-rays is that they expose patients to less radiation – only 10% of the radiation of traditional x-rays. Also, since they can be enlarged to the full size of a computer screen, this offers improved viewing ability for analysis and diagnosis.
This added feature also benefits patients in that it enables us to co-diagnose. Our patients not only understand what treatment may need to be performed but just as importantly why.
Painless Anesthetic Injections
No More Fear of Needles
The STA (Single Tooth Anesthesia) system is a game changer because it solves the most common complaints people have about going to the dentist, pain and the fear of needles. For starters, it numbs just the tooth that’s being worked on, not half your face. That means you don’t walk out of the office with a numb cheek, drooping lip, or the fear that you're going to accidentally bite your tongue while trying to eat or talk.
Less Anesthetic
One benefit is how it controls the injection itself. Instead of the dentist pushing the anesthetic manually, the STA system uses a computer to deliver the medication slowly and precisely. That means less discomfort during the injection, especially for people who are sensitive to the typical sting that comes from traditional methods.
Fast Working
Another advantage is how quickly it works. Since it delivers the anesthetic right into the ligament surrounding the tooth, it kicks in almost immediately. No more waiting around for your whole mouth to go numb.
Less Anxiety
It’s also great for people who get nervous at the dentist. The injection feels gentler, it’s less invasive, and the tool they use looks more like a wand than a needle, which is a lot less intimidating—especially for kids or anyone with dental anxiety.
Less Numbness
And because the numbness is so localized and short-lived, people can go right back to work or school without feeling weird or having to wait for their mouth to “wake up.” It’s efficient for the dentist and comfortable for the patient.
Intraoral Camera
This is a specialized miniature camera that is used for taking up-close digital photographs of teeth and gums. Details such as decay, cracks, fillings, and tartar are magnified to the size of the computer screen. This enables the patient to see his or her mouth the way the dentist sees it.
These features enable us to co-diagnose and help you understand why certain procedures may benefit your oral health.
Laser Cavity Detector
While the common widespread use of fluoride has significantly reduced the overall incidence of cavities, it may not prevent decay from progressing under a seemingly intact tooth structure. If left undiscovered and untreated, this decay will keep growing and destroying healthy tooth until it reaches the outer surface.
The Diagnodent laser provides Dr. Allen with an additional tool to find this type of hidden decay, enabling her to treat it before it gets larger and becomes evident on the outside of the tooth. Stopping decay early preserves the maximum amount of tooth structure and decreases the likelihood for costly root canal treatments, extractions, and crowns.
Quiet Handpieces
No one enjoys the sound of the “drill” used in the dental office. Dr. Allen uses the newest ultra-quiet handpieces, which are designed to be softer than a normal conversation. This contributes to a more relaxed environment for patients as they have their dental work done.