Dental Technology in Post Office Square, Boston, MA

Digital X-Rays

In the past, we took x-rays using film. We would place the film in a holder, place the holder in the proper position in your mouth, and then take the x-ray. After that, we would have to run the film through a processor that put the film into developer and fixer liquid baths, followed by a water bath to rinse the chemicals off the film. Finally, the processor would dry the film.

Nowadays, we can forego that time-consuming process, as well as the chemicals. Instead, we have digital x-rays. We place a digital sensor in your mouth, position it where we need to take the x-ray, and then take it. With a push of a button, the image shows up on our computer screen.

CAD/CAM Technology for Restorations

Our office also utilizes CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) software. This technology allows us to take a digital scan of a tooth using an intra-oral scanner. Using special software, the data from the scan is used to generate a design for a custom dental crown.

The program also generates a custom blueprint and guidelines to manufacture your new crown. The software is linked to a milling machine that will fabricate the crown in-office.

Instead of having to take an impression for a crown, inlay, or onlay and sending it to an outside lab for fabrication – a process that can take weeks – we can now make these restorations in a single dental visit.

Telescopic Loupes

When you visit your Post Office Square dentist, you will likely notice them wearing a funny-looking pair of glasses to perform your examination or dental procedure.

These glasses are called telescopic loupes. They have surgical telescopes attached to them, which magnifies what the dentist sees.

Using their loupes, the dentist can see fine details that would go unnoticed by the naked eye. Being able to see this well gives your dentist the opportunity to ensure that all the decay is cleaned out of a cavity. It also helps the dentist create an ideal crown, inlay, onlay, or veneer preparation, so your restorations fit even better. Additionally, the loupes can help your dentist during an exam to catch issues in the earliest stages possible.