For years, dentists have had to rely exclusively on X-rays to take a read of a patient\u2019s mouth. While these diagnostic tools are hugely valuable in their own right, they\u2019re certainly not foolproof\u2014and they may have trouble spotting certain oral issues. Enter a wide array of advanced digital imaging tools, which are upping the ante when it comes to developing a full assessment of a patient\u2019s oral health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Computer technologies now offer enhancements to X-rays in a number of ways, from digital radiography tools that create images with less radiation exposure, to intraoral cameras that allow patients to view their own dental imagery on a screen in real time, to digital scans that can detect tiny cracks, changes in oral tissue, and other issues that might be too small to be detected by a traditional X-ray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Together, these advanced imaging tools allow for more precise assessments of a patient\u2019s dental health, which can result in earlier diagnosis\u2014and more effective treatment\u2014of a wide range of oral health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The word \u201clasers\u201d may sound like it belongs more in Star Wars than in a dentist\u2019s office, but in fact lasers are becoming a massively useful tool for the diagnosis and treatment of oral health issues. For example, many dentists now employ lasers for gum surgery, and if technological trends continue lasers may replace drills in the removal of cavities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We don\u2019t have to explain how eliminating drills from dentistry would be a major game-changer for patients! What\u2019s more, the use of lasers in the treatment of dental issues minimizes the invasiveness of these procedures and requires the removal of less tooth and oral tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our phones, refrigerators, and lighting systems are getting \u201csmarter\u201d, so it was only a matter of time before our toothbrushes smartened up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n