Technology

At the office of Smile Village Dental Care, we use the latest technology to provide our patients with the most precise and gentle care. We firmly believe that achieving successful treatment outcomes relies on using the most advanced diagnostic technology.

3D Imaging

By obtaining high-resolution and detailed 3D images, we can develop the right treatment plan and provide the highest level of care. As a state-of-the-art practice, we utilize one of the most advanced CBCT (cone-beam computed tomography) imaging systems to obtain the sharpest 3D diagnostic films while exposing the patient to the lowest level of radiation.

With the advanced and versatile capabilities provided by our CBCT imaging system, it’s quick, safe, and comfortable to obtain detailed 3D views of a patient's teeth, jaws, and surrounding anatomy.

Because they obtain targeted, detailed, and distortion-free views from multiple angles, CBCT scans provide essential information for numerous analyses and the assessment of maxillofacial disorders or pathology. With applications in every area of dental care, CBCT imaging facilitates precise surgical planning, including the accurate placement of dental implants.

Our office values your time and investment in your oral health. We maintain an unwavering commitment to excellence and strive to provide the most advanced and comfortable solutions to meet your family’s dental needs. With patient care and comfort as our top priorities, you can depend on our practice for the highest quality of skilled and compassionate care.

Digital Impressions

By using intra-oral optical scanning devices, the need for patients to have a messy conventional dental impression taken of their teeth is eliminated. Digital optical impressions enable the dentist to more efficiently and effectively obtain an accurate computer generated representation of their patient’s teeth along with the surrounding tissues. In addition to being much more comfortable for the patient, a digital impression eliminates the need for the dentist to either create a stone model from the impression, or to mail the impression directly to the laboratory for any type of work to be done. Digital impression information is transmitted electronically, significantly reducing the turnaround time of any needed outside laboratory work. Digital impressions are also integral to systems that produce same day, in-office ceramic restorations.

Digital XRays

Digital radiography utilizes computer technology and digital sensors for the acquisition, viewing, storage, and sharing of radiographic images. It offers several advantages over the older traditional film based methods of taking x-rays. The most significant of theses advantages is that digital radiography reduces a patient’s exposure to radiation. Other benefits are that images can be viewed instantly after being taken, can be seen simultaneously as needed by multiple practitioners, and can be easily shared with other offices. Digital x-rays are also safer for the environment as they do not require any chemicals or paper to develop.

An electronic pad, known as a sensor is used instead of film to acquire a digital image. After the image is taken, it goes directly into the patient’s file on the computer. Once it is stored on the computer, it can be easily viewed on a screen, shared, or printed out.

Laser Dentistry

One of the significant advances in modern dentistry has been the development of dental laser technology. Today, dental lasers are being increasingly used to treat tooth decay, periodontal disease, perform biopsies or the removal of oral lesions, to cure restorative (filling) materials, as well as to activate in-office teeth whitening systems.

Dental lasers combine laser energy with water and air to safely cut and shape target soft or hard tissues in the mouth. Laser energy precisely cuts through tooth structure by exciting the water molecules in the tooth. It operates without direct contact to the tooth without heat, vibration, or pressure thereby minimizing the discomfort of the procedure and the need for dental anesthesia. In addition dental lasers can reduce anxiety for patients fearful of dental work, minimize post-operative bleeding and swelling, and preserve healthy tooth structure during the removal of decay.

While dental lasers may be an excellent treatment option in some situations, they cannot be used for every dental procedure.

Vizilite Oral Cancer Screening

The ViziLite® Plus system provides your dentist with an additional and effective mechanism for identifying, evaluating, monitoring and marking abnormal lesions in the mouth that may be indicative of the dysplastic changes that are associated with the development of oral cancer. Since early detection and diagnosis of oral cancer can significantly improve the outcome of treatment, ViziLite is considered an important adjunct to periodic, conventional head and neck examinations.

A painless and fast oral cancer screening with the ViziLite Plus system may be combined with your regular checkup visit. After rinsing your mouth with a special cleansing solution, the dentist will simply pass the ViziLite Plus light over the tissues in your mouth. If there are any abnormal changes to the mucous membranes lining the mouth and throat, the area will appear in a different color from the surrounding healthy tissues. In the event that anything is detected, further diagnostic assessments will be recommended as needed.

T-Scan®

At the office of Smile Village Dental Care, we provide skilled and experienced care to support beautiful smiles and comfortable, pain-free oral function. 

Why functional harmony matters

A healthy bite relies on a balanced occlusion. In other words, your teeth must occlude and “meet in a way” that supports comfort and functional harmony while biting, opening, and closing your mouth and performing other normal jaw movements.

Teeth and restorations that don’t occlude as they should create unbalanced forces that may result in the following problems:

• Worn down or loose teeth
• Broken teeth or restorations
• Tooth sensitivity
• Muscle tightness or dysfunction leading to a TMJ disorder. 

The most advanced and precise way to analyze occlusion

At our office, we perform a T-Scan® Novus from Tekscan to record and analyze your occlusion as you bite down and slide your jaw from side to side and front to back. This remarkable grid-based sensor technology provides instantaneous information that enables us to make healthy adjustments to your bite with the ultimate precision.

As the most accurate way to gather and evaluate occlusal data, a T-Scan eliminates all the guesswork associated with conventional bite analysis methods to demonstrate what is and is not functioning correctly.

With the help of this advanced diagnostic tool, we can perform a precise bite adjustment to improve the articulation between the top and bottom teeth for better function and comfort. This process may involve an occlusal equilibration—a meticulous and precise procedure that entails minor, selective filing and reshaping of the occlusal or incisal surfaces (biting surfaces) of specific teeth.

In some cases, achieving a healthy, comfortable, and functional bite may also involve replacing existing restorations, placing new restorations, orthodontic treatment, or the fabrication of a removable occlusal guard or splint.