Advanced Technology
When you seek care at our office, you are assured that Dr. Chiang and staff utilize the latest in technology to enhance the quality and fit for your dental care.
Precision Dentistry or ‘Microdentistry’
One of the easiest ways to differentiate between dentists is by the magnification tools that he or she uses: increased magnification means more precise dental work.
Most dentists in the US use binocular loupes with 2.5x magnification, very few use 6.0x loupes, and less than 1% use the microscope. In the past, the microscope has been used exclusively by endodontists. Dr. Chiang uses the 2.5x loupe, 6.0x loupe, as well as the microscope.
Microscopes give a much clearer, magnified perspective, allowing for a more accurate diagnosis and precise treatment. Greater visual acuity with the microscope’s wide range of magnification, and bright illumination, removes a lot of guess work that can take place with “eyes only” dentistry.
Our practice uses high power microscopes to enhance the precision of patient care. In addition to allowing precise, close-up work, the microscope directs a beam of light directly on the teeth, minimizing glare for you.
Many dentists use air-driven “hand-pieces” (the dental term for “drills”). While acceptable for many procedures, these “whiney sounding” air-powered hand pieces all have a degree of non-concentricity; they do not rotate perfectly smoothly.
For the most precise aspects of restorative procedures, we use electric hand-pieces. This results in extraordinarily precise interfaces between your tooth and your new restoration (dental crown, tooth veneer, or tooth filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise.
Digital X-Rays and Imaging
Each of the x-ray machines that we use in our office is digital, including our Galileos Cone Beam CT unit and our NOMAD Pro 2™ Handheld X-ray unit.
Dr. Chiang chooses carefully when and which radiographs are taken. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes, including detecting cavities in between your teeth, determining bone level, and analyzing the health of your bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, as well as assess damage when trauma occurs.
Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs in general is extremely minimal, and digital imaging exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs as well as 1/6th the radiation exposure.
Digital X-rays offer more precision since we view the image on a computer monitor, instead of holding up a 35mm film up to the light. Also digital imaging allows us to store patient images, and enables us to quickly and easily transfer them to specialists or insurance companies.
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.
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.
Intraoral Camera
Many patients, especially younger patients, are very familiar with the latest technology and are comfortable with the high tech practice. Computers and TV screens are their primary method of information processing.
Dr. Chiang utilizes Intraoral Camera technology that helps enhance your understanding of your diagnosis. An Intraoral Camera is a very small camera – in some cases, just a few millimeters long. An Intraoral Camera allows our practice to view clear, precise images of your mouth, teeth and gums, in order for us to accurately make a diagnosis. With clear, defined, enlarged images, you see details that may be missed by standard mirror examinations. This can mean faster diagnosis with less chair-time for you!
Intraoral cameras also enable our practice to save your images in our office computer to provide a permanent record of treatments. These images can be printed for you, other specialists, and your lab or insurance companies.