Technology

“The latest technology” says little on its own. Better questions are what each machine changes for you and how it is used. These are the questions we would ask — our answers are on each technology page.

• Which X-rays will I need, and why now?
• When do you take a 3D CBCT scan, and how do you keep the dose low?
• Is your laser for soft tissue, tooth, or both?
• Do your dentists work with magnification? Is there a microscope for root canals?
• Do you use a rubber dam for root canals and bonded fillings?
• Are crowns designed from a digital scan — and made in the office or at a lab?
• How are instruments sterilised, and are they opened in front of me?

Everyone receives natural background radiation from the ground, the air and space — in the US about 3 mSv a year, or roughly 0.008 mSv a day. Dental X-rays are small next to that:

• Four digital bitewing X-rays: about 0.005 mSv — less than one day of background radiation.
• A panoramic X-ray: about 0.02 mSv — two to three days.
• A small-area 3D CBCT scan: typically a few days to a few weeks, depending on the area scanned.

We take X-rays only when they answer a question, and we always tell you which ones and why.

We follow the CDC’s guidelines for infection control in dental settings:

• Instruments are cleaned, sealed in pouches and steam-sterilised; you see the pouch opened at your chair.
• Each sterilizer is checked with a biological spore test every week, and every load is logged.
• Needles, suction tips, camera sleeves and many other items are single-use.
• The water in our dental units is treated and tested to meet the CDC standard for dental water.
• Surfaces are cleaned and covered between every patient.