Advanced Technology

Precision Dentistry

When you seek care at our office, you are assured that Dr. Greenaway and staff utilize the latest in technology to enhance the quality and fit for your dental care.

Digital Imaging

Dr. Greenaway chooses carefully which and when radiographs are taken. There are many guidelines that we follow. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes. Radiographs enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth, determine bone level, and analyze the health of your bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, as well as assess damage when trauma occurs.

Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs is extremely minimal. Dr. Greenaway utilizes Digital Imaging Technologies within the office. With digital imaging, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs. Digital imaging can also help us retrieve valuable diagnostic information. We may be able to see cavities better.

Digital imaging allows us to store patient images, and enables us to quickly and easily transfer them to specialists or insurance companies.

Digital X-Rays:

Digital X-rays offer more precision since we view the image on a computer monitor, instead of holding up a 35mm film up to the light. Digital X-rays results in 1/6th the radiation exposure to you.

Laser Dentistry

Laser dentistry is one of dentistry’s latest advances. The laser delivers energy in the form of light. Depending on the intended result, this energy travels at different wavelengths and is absorbed by a “target.” In dentistry, these targets can be enamel, decay, gum tissue, or whitening enhancers. Each one absorbs a different wavelength of light while reflecting others. Laser dentistry can be used for soft tissue related procedures.   For soft tissue (surgical) procedures it eliminates the need for suturing and healing is much faster.

Lasers can be used to diagnose cavities. They can find hidden decay in teeth in early stages, and in some cases the decay can be reversed through hygiene and fluoride treatment and may never need filling.

Areas of dental care that benefit from laser technology:

• Cavity diagnosis and removal
• Curing, or hardening, bonding materials
• Whitening Teeth
• Periodontal, or gum related, care
• Pediatric procedures
• Apthous Ulcer treatment (canker sore)
• Frenectomy (tongue-tie release) without anesthesia or sutures
• Root canals and apicoectomies
• Crown lengthening, gingivectomy and other gum corrections

Dental lasers have been shown to be safe and effective for treating both children and adults.

Intraoral Camera

Many patients, especially younger patients, are very familiar with the latest technology and are comfortable with the high tech practice. Computers and TV screens are their primary method of information processing.

Dr. Greenaway utilizes Intraoral Camera technology that helps enhance your understanding of your diagnosis. An Intraoral Camera is a very small camera – in some cases, just a few millimeters long. An Intraoral Camera allows our practice to view clear, precise images of your mouth, teeth and gums, in order for us to accurately make a diagnosis. With clear, defined, enlarged images, you see details that may be missed by standard mirror examinations. This can mean faster diagnosis with less chair-time for you!

Intraoral cameras also enable our practice to save your images in our office computer to provide a permanent record of treatments. These images can be printed for you, other specialists, and your lab or insurance companies.

CariVu

CariVu is a small, handheld cavity detection device that is used to find occlusal, interproximal and recurrent cavities and cracks. It is used to diagnose potential cavities in ways that is more difficult than other forms of technology.

The CariVu works by “hugging” the tooth and using near-infrared light to make tooth enamel appear transparent and allow any lesions to show up as dark areas. The final result is similar to the tooth X-Rays that are performed every year in the office.

We’re excited to have this new assessment method in house, because it allows us to:

• Address Suspicious Caries – The best way to stop tooth decay is to catch it early. X-rays may hint at problems but may make it possible to see all of the potential areas of decay. CariVu acts as a complementary tool to catch any cavities before they have grown into problems.
• Alternative Diagnostics – Every patient should have X-rays. But for some patients, X-rays are a challenge to perform due to gagging, dental fears, etc. CariVu can be used as an alternative diagnostic tool for those unable to undergo X-rays.
• Better Earlier Detection – For patients taking a proactive approach to their dental care, CariVu allows for better early detection than X-rays are able to perform, able to see potential decay before it has progressed enough for a traditional X-ray.