Our Technology
Mesa, AZ
 Dentistry is moving forward in education and technology. We are continually being introduced to a variety of tools designed to enhance preventive treatments, restorative care, and cosmetic improvements. At Timothy H. Kindt, DDS, we have made it a priority to be up to date on new information and technology to better serve our patients. Incorporating these new evolving tools helps us be better for you. Increasingly, dentistry is allowing for better oral health for our patients, who are living and enjoying life longer.
How has technology impacted dentistry?
You may be surprised to learn how new dentistry really is. Most dental work has advanced to where we are now in less than the past century. We have a much greater understanding of preventive care such as the benefits of brushing, flossing, or even fluoride. We have extended our restorative care to saving teeth that would otherwise be lost and we have even greatly advanced the look of teeth and providing cosmetic enhancements to improve smiles. Along with this knowledge, the development of tools and resources have also greatly advanced. Today, we have better tools and software to assist and guide our team to provide you better care.
Some tools that we have incorporated include:
Digital RadiologyOur dental x-rays are collected using digital technology. This is a huge advancement in diagnostics. We use x-rays as a primary tool to detect and diagnose problems that are otherwise hidden such as the presence of decay, infection, growths, and other anomalies. Digital technology provides many benefits to our team and the patient. Some benefits of digital x-rays include:
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Larger Images: We are able to display large, clear x-ray images on a screen next to your chair. Long gone are the days of tiny, grainy slides, that most people struggled with seeing or understanding. We are able to show our patients large resolution images that can be zoomed in and out to show clear visuals, greatly helping our team explain your dental health.
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Digitally Saved: Your images are digitally saved in our vast computer filing system. This means that the images will never fall out of your file, or be lost. We will be able to pull up past images to compare changes and review data as needed. Additionally, these images can be shared with other dental professionals as needed with a quick click of a button.
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Significantly Less Radiation: Radiation from dental x-rays has always been within safety guidelines as indicated by the ADA, but if they caused you concern, digital imagery requires significantly less radiation to capture the images needed. Studies show that they use up to 90% less radiation. |
3D ImagingPrior to some surgical treatments, including the surgical implantation of dental implants, we may ask for a complete 3D image of your oral cavity. The image can be valuable in determining treatment because it provides a depth and overview of the available bone mass. Digital technology provides us with clear, large resolution images that we can share and store digitally.
UltraSonic ScalerGum disease, which can also be referred to as gingivitis, or periodontitis, depending on the severity, is a common dental disorder in many adults. We can help reduce the level of bacteria and assist your gum tissue in healing with a deep cleaning known as scaling and root planing. Scaling with a hand tool can be painful and time consuming. We can ease the work with a tool known as an ultrasonic scaler.
This ultrasonic scaler uses a stream of water and a vibrating tip to loosen and remove hardened plaque and calculus from the surface of your teeth and below the gum line. It may feel uncomfortable for some. We can apply a local anesthetic to help. Others state that they find the sensation satisfying, like a deep cleaning. Bacteria thrives in plaque and calculus, causing irritation and disease to your gum tissue. Gum disease is actually the leading cause of tooth loss in adults. The ultrasonic scaler can help you have a healthier smile.
Intra Oral CameraOne of the aspects of meeting with our patients that we value most is educating and helping our patients gain a greater understanding of their oral health including teeth that have fillings, caries, cavities and more. We believe that with more education, our patients will have healthier teeth and gums going forward. One tool that we like to use in providing education is the intra oral camera.
The intra oral camera allows us to display a live stream of the inside of the mouth on a screen near your chair. With it, we are able to show areas of concern, or where treatment may be needed, in a large format that is easier to see and understand. The intra oral camera is sometimes referred to as a wand. It is about the size of a toothbrush making it easy to fit inside your mouth and show you around. The communication that we are able to have is greatly improved with the visual help of this small camera.
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