To request an appointment at our practice in San Carlos, please go here. We proudly serve the communities of San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Daly City, San Bruno, South San Francisco and more.
We cannot be a Bay Area family dentist and not talk about the technology at our practice, can we? That just wouldn’t be fair.
3D PRINTING YOUR DENTAL CROWNS
When I first moved to the States in 2016, I didn’t know the kind of advancements in technology I’d be learning about. At the University of Washington in Seattle, where I went to dental school, I was introduced to many forms of technology, particularly the intraoral scanner that allowed us to 3D print crowns for patients. We had just one machine back then and getting to use it was like being in a candy store. We had to work with one very specific instructor in order to use the technology on a patient.
Patients found it equally thrilling. Using an intra oral scanner meant no more gooey, messy impressions! I loved the technology so much that I interviewed at practices that used the technology, upon graduation. This was still early days and only a few practices in the Greater Seattle Area were able to afford it. One of the offices I worked at even used the technology to print crowns over implants. Patients absolutely loved this, since it cut appointments down by half.
This is why we are bringing Sirona’s CEREC milling and baking unit to Aashvi Smiles Dental Group. As a busy parent of two, I cannot imagine going in a second time for a crown seat appointment. Since most of you are also busy professionals, I am sure this piece of technology will be well appreciated! I personally love using it and have found that it has helped improve the quality of restorations I can offer to our patients.
CBCT RADIOGRAPHY
Two decades ago when I first went to dental school in India, we learned that most adult grinding occurs due to stress. And that kids outgrow night time grinding. A decade ago, due to extensive research on the topic, we now know that teeth grinding is a sign of something deeper. That kids grinding at night may be a cry for help due to their constructed airways.
Now, when we read about difficulty sleeping, snoring or teeth grinding, on your new patient forms, it might be an indication for us to take a CBCT in house. The CBCT (Cone Beam Computed Tomography) can help us detect problems and find solutions before they get worse.
While traditional x-rays are a great diagnostic tool to measure bone loss or decay, we may not always see the full picture with them. Especially if it comes to a cracked tooth, proximity of a wisdom tooth to the nerve, or a painful tooth about to undergo a root canal treatment. Even implant planning is made better with 3D radiographs! Having a CBCT in house helps us make the appropriate measurements and apply the gold standard to your treatment.
In residency at Alameda Health Systems, I could not imagine completing a root canal treatment or pulling a wisdom tooth without consulting the trusty CBCT scan prior. And so I knew we had to get one at Aashvi Smiles Dental Group in San Carlos from day one!
NOMAD RADIOGRPAHY
At the dentist, have you ever been made to bite on a stick while getting your radiographs taken, and from the corner of your eye, you see the assistant running outside the room to click some random button? You wait 15 seconds biting on the stick while she/he comes back and changes the location of the bite stick, only to repeat the process a half dozen times? I recently went through that at my own recall exam!
Luckily, we do not need to do that anymore. The NOMAD is a portable radiograph machine which allows the assistant to take x-rays of your teeth very quickly, without running in and out of the room. It also means that radiographs can be taken anywhere in the office, not just specific operatories, an advantage for those of us in wheelchairs or anyone who prefers a home visit.
It is also a huge plus for our wiggly littles who cannot be trusted to sit still for too long.
INTRAORAL PHOTOS
A picture speaks a thousand words. A literal picture, not a radiograph. Even I, a dentist, need to see a picture of my tooth to understand how bad a cavity is. Sure, I can read the radiograph too, but a picture makes more sense to me, just like it does to you! We take pictures at all new patient exams and recall visits so you can test real time how things are looking.
It is a great educational tool too. Sometimes when pictures of our teeth are blown up on an iPad, we become aware of things we were not previously thinking about. It’s how I learned that I have a deep bite and why I HAVE to wear a night guard. I also learned that a little bit of whitening will hide how much I love my coffee!
Yes, we offer whitening services too, but more on that in another post.
Thinking of more questions about our technology? Drop us a message here. We look forward to hearing from you!
To request an appointment at our practice in San Carlos, please go here. We proudly serve the communities of San Carlos, Belmont, Redwood City, Palo Alto, Half Moon Bay, Daly City, San Bruno, South San Francisco and more.