An intraoral camera is an indispensable diagnostic and educational tool. The tiny device is a video camera that moves around inside the mouth and generates a tooth by tooth video exam of the teeth. The images can be stored, and later enlarged and printed.

As it is nearly impossible to see inside your own mouth, intraoral cameras provide a previously unseen view. The pen-sized camera features a disposable cover to prevent contamination is completely painless to use! As the camera moves around your mouth, it sends video images to a computing unit where the images are enlarged and transmitted to a television screen.

With the images produced by the intraoral camera, patients can see each of their teeth and dentists can indicate problems such as broken teeth, plaque, decay, gum disease, defective fillings, and so on. Using an intraoral camera allows patients to better understand their dental needs by seeing what the dentist sees and then having it explained.

Since the intraoral camera generates images that are stored, enlarged, and analyzed, often dental problems are caught in the early stages and sometimes even problems that dentists might otherwise miss with a visual examination are discovered. Once treatment options are discussed and agreed upon, intraoral cameras can be used to effectively track treatment progress

Q1: What is Zoom! tooth whitening?
A1: Zoom! is a bleaching process that lightens discoloration of enamel and dentin. You may have seen the Zoom! process used on ABC’s Extreme Makeover.

Q2: How does the Zoom! In-off ice system work?
A2: The Zoom! light activated whitening gel's active ingredient is Hydrogen Peroxide. As the Hydrogen Peroxide is broken down, oxygen enters the enamel and dentin, bleaching colored substances while the structure of the tooth is unchanged. The Zoom! light aids in activating the hydrogen peroxide and helps it penetrate the surface of the tooth. A study has shown that use of the Zoom! lamp increases the effectiveness of the Zoom! gel by 26% or more, giving an average improvement of up to eight shades.

Q3: Is whitening safe?
A3: Yes. Extensive research and clinical studies indicate that whitening teeth under the supervision of a dentist is safe. In fact, many dentists consider whitening the safest cosmetic dental procedure available. As with any tooth whitening product, Zoom! is not recommended for children under 13 years of age and pregnant or lactating women.

Q4: Are there any side effects?
A4: Sensitivity during the treatment may occur with some patients. The Zoom! light generates minimal heat which is the usual source of discomfort. On rare occasions, minor tingling sensations are experienced immediately after the procedure, but always dissipate. You can also ask your dentist to supply you with anti-sensitivity toothpaste for use prior to treatment.

Q5: What causes tooth discoloration?
A5: There are many causes. The most common include aging and consumption of staining substances such as coffee, tea, colas, tobacco, red wine, etc. During tooth formation, consumption of tetracycline, certain antibiotics or excessive fluoride may also cause tooth discoloration.

Q6: What will I experience during the Zoom! In-Office Procedure?
A6: During the procedure, patients may comfortably watch television or listen to music. Individuals with a strong gag reflex or anxiety may have difficulty undergoing the entire procedure. The complete procedure takes 2 hours. (A cleaning is recommended prior to the actual Zoom! whitening session.)

Q7: How long do the results last?
A7: By following some simple post whitening care instructions, your teeth will always be lighter than they were before. To keep your teeth looking their best, we recommend flossing, brushing twice daily, and occasional touch-ups with Zoom! Weekender or Nite White gel. These are professional formula products designed specifically to keep your teeth their brightest.

Our practice is committed to bringing the safest and highest quality of care to our patients. The installation of our new digital X-ray system continues that commitment. Using the state-of-the-art ScanX system enables us to provide greatly improved diagnostic capabilities to our patients while significantly lessening their exposure to radiation by up to 80 percent over the old film X-rays. We know this will be very important to many.

While traditional film X-rays have been the standard for diagnosing dental problems for the past 90 years, digital X-rays offer substantial benefits over film. Our patients find it is more comfortable than film, and it’s a real time-saver over the old technology.

Digital X-ray technology also enables our patients to see for themselves the dental conditions. The digital X-ray image is instantly displayed on a large computer screen and TV Screen and can be enhanced and magnified to show conditions such as cavities or structural weaknesses in teeth. It’s a wonderful tool for helping our patients fully understand their treatment options