Radiography
 
Our state of the art x-ray equipment delivers a fraction of the x-ray dosage delivered by generation machines yet give better diagnostic films. With one quick, low dose picture, we get a detailed look at your teeth and also the bone in your upper and lower jaws, tempomandibular (TMJ) joints, and sinus cavities, without putting anything into your mouth. These areas are not examined very frequently by physicians and like any other part of your body can quietly acquire very serious, sometimes deadly, conditions. We can screen for and allow treatment at an earlier stage to help avoid serious problems.

 

Computers
Our whole office is computerized. From the CD ROMs that explain treatments in easy to follow detail, to our chair side computers that quickly and accurately store and retrieve your records to the online insurance filing we can do on your behalf. As with everything, computers have evolved dramatically during this period. One of the most useful articles is the Caesy Enterprise Software and server. This can wirelessly broadcast to any of the many laptops answers to any dental question the patient may have. This can be done through hundreds of short videos and answers with pictures on paper. Any of these can be almost instantly placed on CD so that the patient can view them at home or discuss various treatment options with other family members.

DIAGNOdent is a revolutionary new way to find even the smallest areas of tooth decay.  By using this technology, we are able to target and treat all your small problem areas before they turn into larger issues that require more complicated procedures.  Believe it or not, as much as 50% of tooth decay may go undetected by traditional dental methods.  DIAGNOdent is completely painless. Its energy level is similar to that of a laser pointer and harmless to surrounding tissue.  At HiTech Family Dentistry we use the DIAGNOdent as part of a routine exam so there is no extra cost to you.

Air Abrasion

What is KCP or Air Abrasion and how does it work? 

Imagine getting your teeth prepared for filling without using needles or drills.  With KCP, we gently and with unparallel precision remove only decay and dead tissue. That leaves more of your own tooth and you get a smaller filling. Best of all - no piercing needles, no vibrating uncomfortable drills. Just listen to the music and before you know it, the preparation is complete.  

      
Is the Powder Safe?

Because of its abrasiveness it has been used in toothpastes for decades along with many foods and medicines. The powder is very fine, almost like a dust and as a safety precaution we do get patients to wear protective eyewear to prevent eye irritation.

 

Can All of My Dental Work Be Done This Way? 

If cavities are small and on the chewing surfaces of back teeth or any of the front teeth, then, yes. If old plastic fillings are failing in the front or back of your mouth, then, yes. Large cavities anywhere or the removal of old silver fillings that are failing have to be done with a modified traditional method and not air abrasion.

 

In Summary 

KCP or Air abrasion, if appropriate, is painless, does not require anesthetic, is very fast, saves tooth structure and can save the patient a lot of time and appointments to complete treatment.

Cerec

Traditionally, if your tooth had a cavity or fractured you had a filling done to repair it. Normally the tooth would be repaired with silver amalgam, gold or more recently, tooth coloured plastic. For small or conservative repairs these materials worked fine and for decades but for replacing large sections of the tooth their physical properties often led to the premature breakdown and sometimes loss of the tooth. If lucky, you can have a porcelain and gold or pure porcelain crown covering your tooth and regaining strength. The only problem is that it usually takes two appointments to complete, one for preparation and shaping of the tooth with taking moulds for a lab technician to make the crown. Two weeks later you have to return to have the temporary crown removed and the permanent one cemented in place.

Cerec gives you the same strong tooth at the same cost but in only one appointment.
A good site to visit is that of the manufacturer of the equipment. They are obviously a little biased but their claims are all quite accurate as you explore the site.  http://www.cereconline.com/

Intra-Oral Cameras

We use intra-oral cameras for unprecedented detailed diagnosis which you can see for yourself.  We show you a video or still view of the inside of your mouth using a pen sized camera which sends its image to a LCD monitor.  Why use such a camera?  The size of a tooth is comparable to that of your little finger nail and enlarging the image gives us a clear, sharp unobstructed view, to make better informed treatment decisions.

  

One North American dies of oral cancer every hour of every day.  The disease claims over twice as many lives as cervical cancer. 

The VELscope system is the first device cleared by Health Canada to help dentists see cancerous and precancerous lesions that might not be seen by the naked eye. VELscope exams may be given as part of an annual or semi-annual dental hygiene exam.  The exam is easy for dentists and hygienists to administer, taking only 2-3 minutes.  What's more, it is completely free of pain or discomfort for the patient and it involves no distasteful rinses or messy dyes like some other, much less effective systems.