Technology in today’s world is changing extremely rapidly. Everyone sees the advances in products like phones, computers, and TVs, but the same technological transformations are also taking place in dentistry. Taking advantage of these new technologies can completely transform the experiences for dental patients by creating a visit that is gentle and without undue discomfort.

Many people fear going to the dentist, as they associate dental procedures with pain. Traditional treatments have often been uncomfortable and painful for patients. However, dental discomfort is now a thing of the past, thanks to one of the greatest advancements in modern dental history – the technology of laser dentistry. Lasers are extremely focused light beams that can alter or remove tissue in small amounts. Laser dentistry provides fast, effective, and often completely painless alternatives to many previously common techniques. For example, treating gum disease with dental lasers, as well as the salivary testing of oral DNA, alleviates the need for painful scraping.

Procedures like repairing stained, chipped, or broken teeth has historically required multiple appointments. Oftentimes, this type of treatment necessitated a fragile, temporary solution until a lab could create and ship a permanent fix. Now, through digital modeling and the utilization of a computerized milling machine, a tooth that is stained, chipped, or broken can now be resolved in a simple visit.

Preventive dental checkups are the best way to stay on top of your dental health. Adding technology like laser cavity-detection systems can help locate and treat cavities in their earliest stages. Utilizing digital x-rays provides instant images and reduces the amount of radiation exposure to patients by 80%. Gone are the days of messy impressions, replaced instead with digital impressions with in-office milling, eliminating the need for the multiple visits, yet providing more accurate details – both beneficial to the dental patient.

Jaw functionality and conclusive identification of bite problems also benefit from dental technology advancement. Using computerized diagnostic tools that provide precision data, the diagnoses and treatment of problems like TMJ can be effectively treated.

Many people are unhappy with the appearance of their smiles – so much so that they actually often hide them. Fortunately, though, advances in cosmetic dental technology can now provide these folks with multiple alternatives for correcting their teeth, allowing them to show off their pearly whites – for instance, porcelain technology. This metal-free technology allows esthetic treatment of teeth, with their health in mind and still providing strength for many years to come. Perhaps your teeth are perfectly straight, but they aren’t “white” enough. Now there are multiple options for teeth whitening that have allowed patients with varying degrees of darkness and stain to finally be proud of their smiles.

Although dental technology has vastly improved over the years and greatly reduced the amount of potential discomfort, many patients still fear their dental visit. If you’re one of them, perhaps you should consider sedation therapy. This solution allows for a relaxing experience in the dental chair, where multiple procedures can be performed at once. Utilizing specific monitoring equipment and oral medication will have you safely waking up with a new and healthy smile. Entertainment technology

may be another option to help divert attention from your impending treatment. In addition to allowing you to catch up on your favorite show or listen to your favorite music, the distraction provided may help alleviate some of your apprehension.

With today’s technology so readily available, no one should skip a dental visit because of their fear of pain and discomfort. So if you’ve been avoiding going to the dentist and haven’t had a routine exam in the last six months, remember that these advancements are in place to make your experience as pleasant and pain-free as possible. Go ahead and schedule your appointment today … your smile is worth it.