Special Equipment

special equipment

CEREC

Because our office can provide a dental crown in a single dental appointment, we do things a little different than other dental offices. We can skip the temporary molds and the time it takes to have a dental lab fabricate your final crown.

1. We start the crown procedure by reducing the overall size of the tooth that's in need of a dental crown. Shaving off existing tooth structure allows for the new crown to fit properly and it also creates a foundation for the new crown to be bonded to.

2. Next, using our state-of-the-art CEramic REConstruction (CEREC) system, we will digitally scan the section of your mouth that has been prepared for the crown. This is done by using a special wand that can be easily positioned in your mouth to ensure an extremely accurate digital representation of the restoration area.

3. We will now be able to see a high-resolution 3D representation of the area and start to design a new crown that will fit perfectly over the prepared tooth. Our patients often love getting to see us create a new tooth for them in real time, right there on the screen.

4. Once the digital representation of the new crown has been created on the computer, we will send it off to our in-house milling machine. We place a block of porcelain that has been color-matched to the shade of your existing tooth into the milling machine and run the program. This amazing machine robotically fabricates a perfect crown restoration that is ready to be placed over the prepared tooth at this time. This crown is the final crown and NOT a temporary crown which means you have just received a new dental crown in a single dental appointment.

i-CAT

The i-CAT 3-D dental scan system is well in advance of any x-ray system. The i-CAT provides 3-D images of the teeth, jaw, sinuses and skull structure in 1/20th of a second with significantly less radiation than a medical CT scan.

The 3-D scans from the i-CAT provide anatomically accurate data and surgical predictability for:

  • Implant placement
  • Impactions
  • TMJ analysis
  • Airway assessments
  • Panoramics
  • Cephalometrics
  • Orthodontics
  • Orthognathic surgery

Cone Beam Computed Tomography

CBCT stands for "cone beam computed tomography". This is a particular x-ray machine that is used in situations where standard x-rays are not sufficient. The CBCT uses advanced technology which allows us to view 3D images of a patient's dental structure, soft tissues, bone and nerve pathways within the face and mouth. These special x-rays allow for precise treatments to be put in to effect due to its high quality images and the details within. When the CBCT x-rays are called for, we ask that patients wear comfy and loose fitting clothing and will have to remove any type of metal that can interfere with the scan itself. This includes but is not limited to; jewelry, hairpins, underwire bras and glasses.

Some of the most common procedures in which the CBCT is used are:

  • Impacted teeth
  • Locating oral pain
  • Evaluating jaws, nerves, nasal cavity, and sinuses
  • Reconstructive surgery
  • Implant placement
  • Diagnosing TMJ

Digital X-Rays

Our office uses the latest in digital x-ray technology. Digital x-rays offer a detailed image of your entire mouth and also offer up to 80% less radiation than traditional film x-rays.

X-rays play an invaluable role in the diagnosis of dental problems, as well as provide a clear picture for a dentist to accurately diagnose and provide the necessary treatment.

We place a small sensor in your mouth. The sensor is connected to a computer by a thin wire. Next, an x-ray beam is sent through your teeth and into the sensor, which records the image of your teeth and sends it to the computer. The sensor can then be repositioned to image other sections of your teeth.

The digital dental x-ray system is more sensitive than dental x-ray film systems, so your exposure to x-rays is cut by as much as 90 percent. The large and color-enhanced images let you see what your dentist sees, so it's easier for you to understand how your dentist will treat your teeth. Your dental checkups take less time, and it's fun to watch this system work! Most patients are amazed.

Diode Laser

The Diode Laser is a great tool for shaping the gums and removing bacteria from the periodontal pocket, the space between the gums and tooth. Dental cleanings performed with diode laser therapy significantly improve the success of healing the gums.

Inflammation, bleeding, pocket depths, and the amount of bacteria are all greatly reduced as opposed to just scaling and polishing the teeth alone. Best of all, laser therapy has been shown to improve circulation and increase the components that speed healing, referred to as Biostimulation. With any oral procedure or surgery, Biostimulation reduces pain and swelling and can help your mouth recover more quickly.

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Dr. Breazeal would love to meet you and your family and provide you with the best dental care!

(901) 861-0031

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