You might remember the olden days of dentistry when you reluctantly made an appointment to have that agonizingly aching tooth examined.  The dental technician took a series of x-rays, the dentist “Hmmmd” and pointed at the big, ugly cavity clearly visible on the film, and then someone began preparing the instruments – and injection – of torture.

Today’s dentists have many new options for more effectively viewing and treating dental conditions.  Here are some of the tools your dentist in Victoria BC might use:

X-Ray, Drill, Fill – Changes In Dentistry

Digital x-rays:  the dental team at Royal Oak Dental Clinic now uses digital x-ray technology.  Digital x-rays bypass the film and instead capture images of your teeth and jaw on a computer or smart card.  Advantages of this digital process include:

  • Digital access: digital images are stored electronically and are more easily accessed in the patient’s electronic files.
  • High definition:  digital imagery is more precise and crisp than can be achieved with traditional x-rays.
  • No waiting:  digital images are available electronically and in print in mere seconds after being taken – everyone’s waiting time is reduced.
  • Less radiation exposure:  patients are exposed to significantly reduced radiation levels than with traditional x-rays.

The Wand:  this computerized tool delivers anesthesia in a slow, methodical manner and eliminates the pain caused by pressure when an injection of anesthesia forces liquid into dental tissues.  The Wand administers anesthesia through a slow and gentle delivery process that is often painless to the patient.

Optical Scanners: some dentist in Victoria BC practices may use optical scanners to provide a digital map of a tooth.  This scanning system creates a 3-D replica/model of the dental structure.  The process is often used for cosmetic restorations made in dental laboratories (such as porcelain veneers, crowns, and bridges).

Lasers:  lasers are used during dental hygiene cleaning to help remove tartar and plaque.  They also can reduce discomfort and even provide suture-free options for treatment of speech impediment improvements, nerve regeneration, benign tumors, cold sores, and more.  Lasers used in surgery can reduce discomfort and shorten healing periods.

Intra-Oral Camera:  these cameras produce accurate images of teeth and supporting structures.  They enable your dental team to see tooth defects and can be used to help you see and learn about more effective dental hygiene practices.

Better Dental Care, Greater Comfort

The advances in dental-related technology offer multiple advantages to both dental practitioners and their patients.  Increased precision of imagery and delivery systems improve the preciseness of diagnosis and treatment.  Some of the newer advances also mean a significant improvement in patients’ comfort during procedures.

When you contact Royal Oak Dental Clinic for the first time, be sure to ask what kinds of technology are used at the clinic. Royal Oak Dental has incorporated many advanced technologies and practices to ensure that you receive the most up-to-date, safe, and comfortable dental care possible.