Our Advanced Technologies

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Digital Imaging

X-Rays

Electronic Claims

Intraoral Camera

Paperless Charting

CBCT

Intraoral Scanner

Digital Scanner

We use digital imaging software in our office, which allows us to take a digital picture of you and use our imaging system to predict how a particular treatment or cosmetic procedure would change the appearance of your teeth. This software is beneficial for patients who are considering cosmetic procedures but are not sure if they’re ready for dramatic changes. Digital imaging also allows us to document your dental case and procedures very well. We take digital images of your face, teeth, and smile to provide us with a permanent dental record and to provide a visual documentation of treatment.

X-rays are a focused beam of x-ray particles passed through bone which produce an image on special film, showing the structure through which it passed. This provides the familiar black-and-white images doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems and diseases. Without an x-ray of the whole tooth and supporting bone and gum tissues, there would be no way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention.

In our office, we use digital radiography, which allows us to take x-rays using up to 90% less radiation than conventional film x-rays. Using this technology, we are able to take an x-ray of your mouth by using a small sensor that records the image of your teeth and sends it to a computer. The result is a highly detailed image of your mouth that can easily be enhanced to better diagnose dental concerns and determine the very best treatment for each case.

Our office utilizes electronic claims processing. This means that rather than sending your dental claim through the mail, it is sent electronically to your insurance company with the click of a button. By filing your claim electronically, information is submitted more efficiently and with fewer errors. This benefits our patients because the turnaround time on claims is faster and fewer claims are returned or denied. We are happy to submit your dental claims to your insurance company on your behalf.

We use small cameras about the size of a pen, called intraoral cameras, to help clearly see the condition of your teeth and gums.

With this advanced technology, we can zoom in on small diseased areas, cracks, chips, and worn metal fillings with extreme precision. The full-color images taken with the intraoral camera are sent to a computer screen so we can clearly see and diagnose dental problems much earlier than with traditional dental technology. Because images are displayed on our screens, patients will also be able to see areas being worked on and are able to gain a better understanding of dental procedures being performed.

Our office is a completely digital (paperless) dental office. This means all x-rays and charting are made and recorded with the aid of the computer. This technology allows us to maintain your dental records electronically and cuts down the unnecessary paperwork used with traditional paper charting. Traditional paper charting is difficult to keep standardized from doctor to hygienist to assistant. Even handwriting differences and coding make the charts look different. The computer eliminates this problem by using consistent charting methods that are accurate and precise, making it easy to read your dental chart and see up-to-date information. Digital charting standardizes the charting process so it is clear, easy to understand, and enables us to provide the most accurate and precise care to our patients. When needed, this method also allows us to quickly and securely share information with your other healthcare providers.

Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) systems represent a variation of traditional computed tomography (CT) systems. In CBCT, the system revolves around the patient, acquiring data through a cone-shaped X-ray beam.

Our intraoral scanner is a device used to generate digital impression data of the oral cavity directly. The scanner's light source is projected onto the scan objects, such as full dental arches, and then a 3D model processed by the scanning software is displayed in real-time on a touch screen.

Our cutting-edge dental scanner boasts advanced software designed specifically for providing precise dental scans. When a patient undergoes a scan, the wand is placed into the mouth, smoothly navigating it across the upper and lower teeth. Meanwhile, the scanner seamlessly captures detailed digital impressions of the patient's oral cavity in real-time. This innovative technology ensures accurate results and enhances the overall dental experience.

Oral ID

Our office utilizes Oral ID during our Oral Exam for Oral Cancer Screenings. Study results have shown that a COE (Clinical Oral Examination) alone may not detect and discriminate reliability between benign, dysplastic lesions and OSCC (oral squamous cell carcinoma). Some mucosal, dysplastic, or even early-stage cancer lesions may manifest in the mucosa that appears to be normal clinically.

When found at an early stage of development (Stage I and II), oral cancers have an 80 to 90 percent survival rate. The problem is that the majority of oral cancers are found in late stages (Stages II and IV), resulting in a mortality rate of 43 percent at a five-year diagnosis (for all stages combined).

Did you know that…

40 percent of oral cancers are found in patients who do not present with any of the traditional risk factors or any other significant lifestyle risks? The traditional risk factors of oral cancer include:

Previous history of oral cancer.

Over 40 years of age.

Alcohol.

Smoking.

Smokeless tobacco.

This means all patients, regardless of age and lifestyle, need an oral exam that looks closely for abnormal tissue.

Fluorescence

OralID uses a proven, optically based technology called “fluorescence technology.” OralID’s fluorescence technology uses a blue light (435–460 nm) that allows a clinician to identify oral cancer, pre-cancer, and other abnormal lesions at an earlier stage, thus saving lives. The medical applications of fluorescence technology include diagnosis of the GI tract, cervix, lung, skin, and oral mucosa.

Soft Tissue Laser

Our office utilizes Soft Tissue Laser to accomplish beyond what traditional treatments could achieve. LASER is an acronym for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation, a complicated string of words that basically means a single wavelength beam of highly concentrated light energy.

Lasers have transformed medical surgery by offering minimally-invasive alternatives to traditional scalpel incisions and sutured closures. The laser’s intense, narrow wavelength has precise, predictable, and powerful reactions when it contacts the soft tissues of the body. Laser light is extremely efficient, producing very little heat as it acts on its target. This makes it ideal for oral surgery since it seldom affects tissues other than those it targets. The laser provides precise control over the depth and extent of cutting while simultaneously minimizing bleeding and sterilizing the treatment area.

Why use Soft Tissue Lasers?

Lasers are used because of the precise control they afford the dentist and the comfort they provide to patients. Lasers perform many functions at once. Not only can a laser remove tissue, but it can also be used to seal blood vessels and nerve endings, reducing bleeding and postoperative pain, and swelling. Dentists and patients also appreciate that many times a laser may be used with minimal or no anesthetic.

What about pain?

The soft tissue laser beam has a natural sterilization effect—it evaporates bacteria, viruses, and fungi, which leads to a decrease in local infections. One of the biggest advantages of laser therapy is the fact that many times, procedures can be performed with much less discomfort and postoperative pain than with conventional methods. This is due to the laser’s ability to seal off nerve endings and blood vessels and to be tissue specific during treatment. This is one thing that makes patients very happy. With this benefit alone, more patients are now asking their healthcare professionals if they use dental lasers in their workplace.

Dental Lasers do not make whining sounds or other annoying noises. You should be able to relax and be comfortable while the dental laser is in use.

What about damage to my eyes?

We will have you wear special safety eyewear during the procedure. These specially designed glasses also protect your eyes from other materials that may be used during your therapy.

Dental lasers are used for a variety of treatment procedures. Our qualified dentist knows which type of treatments are more patient-friendly with a laser versus the traditional methods.

Schedule your dental appointment today!

Dr. Kao and our friendly staff are dedicated to making every visit to our dental office a great experience. We provide expert dental care with a personal touch in a comfortable setting.

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