Advancements in Dental Technology

Dentistry has always had its eye on technology for any edge in forwarding care for teeth and gums.  Even older inventions like braces, crowns, and false teeth have seen continual updating in materials, techniques and design resulting in the more effective and elegant versions we have today.  Within the last couple of decades however significant advancements have occurred that have continued the forward march of dental health.

Lasers

The word ‘laser’ always feels vaguely futuristic for people of a certain age but the technology is well-proven at this point.  Dental laser treatment is used in a number of ways, from the removal of inflamed gum tissues to easy preparation of cavities for filling.  Laser dentistry has little pain or to no pain, virtually no bleeding, and dramatically less swelling than previous methods.   

Implants

Implants can now be used to fully replace a tooth in a way that allows it to fit naturally and with as much strength as a natural tooth.  Using a titanium implant in the jaw a tooth will be anchored to it.  Once inserted an implant is cleaned exactly the same way your regular teeth are.  You can think of it as a bionic tooth!

CEREC

The latest breakthrough takes a wide range of new technology and puts it to work for your teeth.  Older full and partial crowns would require measurement and custom creation by an outside facility – but CEREC (CEramic REConstruction) allows the entire process to be completed in the dentist’s office in a single sitting.  A high tech 3D scanner is used to get to capture three dimensional views of the affected area – this is then transferred to a computer that creates an appropriate model of the necessary crown.   Using the latest in 3D printing equipment the installation is built from ceramic on-the spot, enabling a perfectly fitting crown in less than sixty minutes.  From days to less than an hour – technology has come a long way indeed.

Dental technology moves ever forward and Pickering Square Dental continues to keep up with the advances in dentistry.  If you need to have these advancements put to work on your teeth, including CEREC, contact us today.

  

Sticking to Your Dental Care Resolutions

Last month we talked about some great dental health resolutions you might want to consider for 2016.  Now that we’re a month in you might be wavering on them or any other resolutions you might have.  Thankfully you can reinforce any new behaviours in a way that can make keeping your resolutions easy – or at least easier.  Here are some tips on how to do that.

Turn It into a Habit

According to research it takes twenty-one days to form a simple habit like drinking a glass of water after dinner, or say, brushing after lunch.  Twenty-one days isn’t so long a time and once the habit has been established it will be second nature.  For more complicated tasks, like flossing regularly, the time before it sinks in may be longer but if you stick to it eventually it too will be just another part of your day.

Do What You Can to Enjoy It

One of the major keys to building a routine is to find a way that makes it desirable to do.  If you’re going to gym and you use that time to listen to a great audiobook you’ll enjoy that time more and it will make you want to go back to the gym.  If you want to teach proper dental health to your children you can make a silly song out of it and sing it with them – helping them learn and having a great time with your kids.

Try and Try Again

If you come to a point where it seems like your resolution has fallen apart or seems impossible just remind yourself that all it might take is another try.  Don’t get down on yourself.  If you break your diet you can just get back on it right now, and if you keep delaying or postponing your dental appointments because things keep coming up it won’t stop you from making another one.  Starting a longer process over from the beginning might seem daunting but once you’re making progress you’ll see the doubts start to fade away.

When you try to make positive changes in your life your resolve can falter but with these tips it can be a little bit easier maintaining course.  If you want to get on some dental resolutions like whitening or other aesthetic options contact us at Pickering Square Dental today.