Technology

Diode Laser

We utilize the Diode Laser for many treatments during your orthodontic treatment, including:

A boy and girl wearing braces
  • Removing extra gum tissue: To expose more of the patient’s teeth, we can use the Diode Laser to shape the gum tissue. The gums encase the teeth, so if there is too much tissue, the teeth may appear small. The laser safely removes the excess gum to give the teeth better function and appearance!
  • Assist in Bracket Placement: If a tooth is covered by too much gum tissue and not enough room is available for a bracket to be bonded, the Diode Laser is used to remove the extra tissue. This way, our doctor has enough room to place the bracket precisely where it needs to be on the tooth.
  • Help with Impacted Teeth: If a tooth is still underneath the gums and hasn’t erupted on time, we can use the Diode Laser to help with the eruption. This will speed up the eruption process, and we do not have to wait months to continue with treatment.
  • Prevent Fever Blisters: Fever blisters are caused by a common virus that is spread through saliva or skin-to-skin contact. Once contracted, the virus remains dormant in a person, but it can become active every so often. Stress, illnesses, sunburn or trauma can lead to an outbreak of a fever blister. When a fever blister is forming, the patient will feel a tingling sensation, and then redness and swelling will occur. Our doctor can help inhibit the formation of a fever blister by using the Diode Laser. The laser can prevent the blister from breaking out, but if you already have a blister, it can also be treated with the laser. After treatment, it should fade.

Cone-beam Computed Tomography

Child wearing braces and smiling

While CT imaging has been used in the medical field for over 30 years, it is becoming the new diagnostic tool of choice for orthodontic analysis, diagnosis and treatment planning. In order to provide our patients with the highest quality of orthodontic care, we use Dolphin® 3D technology in concert with the i-CAT system, to capture detailed images of the mouth, thus enabling us to maintain sharp, accurate records and keep the patient thoroughly informed of his or her treatment progress.

This three-dimensional CT (computed tomography) technology can provide a quicker full scan of the head than traditional two-dimensional imaging, allowing orthodontists a better visualization of the hard and soft tissues of the craniofacial structures from several perspectives.

Cone Beam imaging can be utilized to obtain the following detailed information:

  • TMJ assessment
  • Surgical planning
  • Assessment of cleft lip and palates
  • Assessment of the alveolar bone
  • Impacted tooth position
  • Facial analysis
  • Tongue size and posture
  • Airway assessment
  • Placement of dental implants

Invisalign

Invisalign logo

Invisalign® straightens your teeth without wires and brackets, using a series of clear, customized, removable appliances called aligners. It's virtually undetectable, which means hardly anyone will know that you're straightening your teeth.

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Clearly Different
The Invisalign System combines advanced 3-D computer graphics technology with 100-year-old science of orthodontics. Invisalign aligners are designed to move your teeth in small steps to the desired final position prescribed by your orthodontist. Each aligner is precisely calibrated and manufactured to fit your mouth at each stage of the treatment plan. Your first step is to visit our office to determine if Invisalign is right for you. After sending precise treatment instructions, Invisalign uses advanced computer technology to translate these instructions in a sequence of finely calibrated aligners - as few as 12 or as many as 48. Each aligner is worn for about two weeks and only taken out to eat, brush and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next, your teeth will begin to move gradually—week-by-week until the final alignment prescribed is attained. Then you'll be smiling like you never have before!

If you want to learn more about Invisalign and how it works, please visit the Invisalign Homepage.

To ensure the best possible results, only an orthodontist who has been trained and certified by Align Technology can diagnose and treat using Invisalign. Invisalign is not intended for children and is not appropriate for every adult. Only an orthodontist can determine if this treatment is an effective option for you. To see if Invisalign can help you achieve the smile you've always wanted, contact us to make an appointment.