Advanced Dental Technology Bellingham

Intraoral Camera

We incorporated digital photos into our practice in order to make it easier for our patients to understand any oral health concerns they may experience and their potential treatment options. We can quickly and comfortably capture photos of just what the dentist sees when viewing your smile.

These images are then displayed on chairside monitors, where we can evaluate them together. We have software that allows us to easily enlarge or enhance the photos, so you have a complete understanding of just what we’re trying to explain. Intraoral photography has been an essential aspect of offering patients improved education to ensure their complete confidence in all of their treatment options. Many of our patients find it helpful to see what we’re talking about before making any final decisions about their treatment options.

Digital X-Rays

Traditional dental X-rays offered us the ability to see into the interior and underlying structures of teeth, but they had several shortcomings. A great deal of radiation was necessary to capture these X-ray scans, and the images produced were not as clear as those available with digital X-rays. Using as much as 90% less radiation, digital X-rays instantly produce crystal-clear images of the interior tooth structures and parts of the smile concealed below the gum line.

Traditional dental x-rays that had to be physically developed using hazardous chemicals, viewed on special light boards, and physically stored and transferred. Digital x-rays are captured as high-definition electronic files that can be immediately viewed on chairside monitors. They’re easily stored and recalled year after year as necessary. We can compare them to new X-rays, which may allow us to diagnose areas of concern in earlier stages.

Best of all, they streamline the treatment process as we’re able to instantly transfer X-rays to dental labs, specialists, and insurance providers as necessary to coordinate dental care.

Cone Beam CT Scanner

For most treatments, digital X-rays that capture just a small area of the smile are more than adequate in the diagnosis and treatment planning process. However, for procedures like dental implant placement and root canal treatment, a complete view of the smile is necessary. That’s where the state-of-the-art CT/cone beam scanner comes in. We use these three-dimensional scans of the entire smile to create a more complete and accurate diagnosis and plan for treatments that repair the full form and function of the smile.

Digital images from the CT/cone beam scanner are viewable on chairside computer monitors just like intraoral photos and digital X-rays. We’re able to show patients a clear, three-dimensional view of their full smile as well as surrounding supportive oral and facial structures. In addition to utilizing these images in creating precise treatment plans, 3D images also allow patients to have a better understanding of their oral health conditions and potential treatments.

Additionally, we can use this technology to offer a full mouth scan to detect asymptomatic areas of infected bone. 3D imaging offers us infinitely better visibility into heavily restored dentitions.

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Digital Impression System

We take impressions to design a wide array of treatments, including dentures, dental implants, veneers, and more. In previous years, creating a model of your teeth and gums would require biting into a mold filled with dental putty. Now, we can avoid the time (and mess) by simply scanning your mouth with a small device. In minutes, you’ll see a high-resolution image of your dentition appear on a nearby monitor. It's made of thousands of data points, which lead to better-fitting and looking restorations that will stand the test of time.