Advanced Dental Technology
Laser Dentistry:
For patients who do not look forward to needles, drilling, or numbness, Laser Dentistry may be the right choice.
Laser dentistry is one of dentistry’s latest advances. The laser delivers energy in the form of light. Depending on the intended result, this energy travels at different wavelengths and is absorbed by a “target.” In dentistry, these targets can be enamel, decay, gum tissue, or whitening enhancers. Each one absorbs a different wavelength of light while reflecting others. Laser dentistry can be used for both tooth and soft tissue related procedures. Oftentimes no local anesthesia is required. Unlike with the dental drill, with laser dentistry there is no heat or vibration, making the procedure quite comfortable for most patients. For soft tissue (surgical) procedures it eliminates the need for suturing and healing is much faster.
Lasers can be used to diagnose cavities. They can find hidden decay in teeth in early stages, and in some cases the decay can be reversed through hygiene and fluoride treatment and may never need filling.
Waterlase by Biolase:
Dr. Imrek was the first dentist to use waterlaser in Houston. Waterlase is an innovative product designed to replace traditional dental tools. It combines water and laser technology to perform common dental procedures, and in many cases effectively removes the necessity of drills or shots. As technology continues to evolve and improve, the dental industry has begun to make innovative changes to traditional options for treatment. Lasers are commonly being introduced as superior alternatives to traditional dental tools: and BIOLASE is at the forefront of making these steps to the future.
Here at First Dental, we pride ourselves in our technology as much as in our patient care. We are constantly striving to provide our patients with not only the best care, but the latest and most efficient technologies to ensure that their treatments are not outdated. It makes us a unique dental practice in Sugar Land, and gives our patients that additional reason to return.
Areas of dental care that benefit from laser technology:
- Cavity diagnosis and removal
- Curing, or hardening, bonding materials
- Whitening teeth
- Periodontal, or gum related, care
- Pediatric procedures
- Apthous Ulcer treatment (canker sore)
- Frenectomy (tongue-tie release) without anesthesia or sutures
- Root canals and apicoectomies
- Crown lengthening, gingivectomy and other gum corrections
Dental lasers have been shown to be safe and effective for treating both children and adults.
Panoramic and IntraOral Digital X-Rays:
Digital X-rays offer more precision since we view the image on a computer monitor, instead of holding a 35mm film up to the light. Digital X-rays results in 1/6th the radiation exposure to you.
At our office in Sugarland , we use Kodak digital intraoral and panoramic digital technology that uses less radiation and provides television size images so that our patients can understand their dental concerns.
Laser Caries Detector:
In addition to the Spectra, our office utilizes the DIAGNOdent pen for laser caries detection. Based on the favourable reproducibility of its values, the DIAGNOdent pen is an outstanding instrument for detecting the development of lesions in regular examinations. It is another safe, painless and revolutionary new way to detect and diagnose even tiny areas of decay.
If the DIAGNOdent reading does not call for immediate dental works, we advise our patients to maintain better dental care around a questionable tooth, and instruct the patient on how to monitor progress before their next exam.
Caries Detection Software:
To ensure the most accurate readings from our caries detection technology, we also employ the latest in reading software. We use the Logicon Digital Caries Detector here in our office, which has been clinically proven to help dentists find up to 20% more caries on permanent teeth.
This software assists us to visually analyze the dental x-rays of our patients and diagnose caries on tooth surfaces. It is supplemented by a database of submitted caries cases, to help us determine whether or not caries are present in x-ray images and whether tooth restoration will be required.
CEREC:
Dr. Imrek was the first general dentist to use CEREC in Houston. CEREC is a method used by thousands of dentists worldwide since 1987 not only to replace these fillings, but also to restore any tooth that is decayed, weakened, broken, etc. to its natural strength and beauty. Better yet, it’s done with all-ceramic materials that are tooth-colored in a single appointment!
Often, patients with amalgam fillings will exhibit amalgam breakdowns and damage to the tooth structure as recurrent decay creates stress fractures on the enamel. Unlike most laboratory-created crowns, CEREC® inlay restorations stabilize the integrity of the tooth. CEREC® materials ensure maximum bond strength and enhance appearance, resulting in your desired smile. CEREC® inlay restorations form a smooth, tooth-colored replacement of dental material lost to cavities. Using ultramodern CAD/CAM technology, CEREC® inlay and onlays, crowns and bridges mimic tooths color and structure. Omnicam is a 6th generation computer CAD CAM system used to create precision fit “27 microns” all porcelain fillings & crowns. It is also being used to create zirconium corwns and bridges . This can all be completed in a single visit.
2D/3D hybrid X-ray unit:
First Dental in Sugar Land is proud to offer the Orthophos SL, a groundbreaking technology that has advanced traditional x-ray equipment, and is versatile enough to prepare our dentist for various treatments by offering both 2D and 3D imaging. Dr. Imrek’s high demands for panoramic 2D images are met by the Othophos’ special DCS sensor and on the 3D side, we now have a variety of collimations to provide. The Orthophos SL can also be equipped at any time with a cephalometric arm, and can provide many new and unprecedented treatment options. In addition to the benefits it provides for our dental staff, it also creates a much more relaxing experience for our patients with over 30 colors of ambient light choices.
LumiSmile:
Dr. Imrek now offers LumiSmile for his patients, an advanced Cosmetic Imaging tecnhnology. Our dental staff can take a photo, and show the patient what they can do to enhance their smile and what the results of different treatments may look like with an updated version of the photo. LumiSmile can simulate changes to color, shape, and smile design through treatments like veneers or whitening. It allows a patient to see what transformations of gaps, stains, crooked teeth, or discoloring can look like before they commit to a procedure.
