Technology

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A few of the dental technology systems that we use at our Savannah dental office include:

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CEREC® One-Visit Crowns

Do you need a dental crown? You may be a candidate for CEREC® dentistry.

Dr. Richard Thomas is a CEREC® dentistry provider in Savannah, Georgia. He may recommend a CEREC® dental crown to restore your tooth if it has extensive decay or has a large, broken filling.

How does CEREC® dental crown technology work?

CEREC® restorative technology provides the digital tools for Dr. Thomas to design and deliver your permanent dental crown in a single visit:

• After removing the damaged structure and preparing the tooth for crown, Dr. Thomas will use the CEREC® imaging camera to record digital ‘impressions’ of the tooth. Unlike a traditional crown that requires messy impression materials, CEREC® captures your tooth anatomy with a 3D camera. There's no need for goopy mouth trays.

• Dr. Thomas uses the CEREC® 3D tooth model to plot your crown design. Once complete, he transfers the file to our milling chamber, where your crown is built from ceramic materials to match your smile - while you wait.

• After the crown milling process is complete, Dr. Thomas polishes your crown and bonds it to your tooth.

Invisalign®

Dr. Richard Thomas is a certified Invisalign® dentist in Savannah, Georgia. Invisalign® clear orthodontics is a comfortable alternative to metal wire-and-bracket teeth braces.

Invisalign® straightens teeth using a series of clear plastic aligners that are easy to remove to clean your teeth or to enjoy your favorite foods. Dr. Thomas works closely with the Invisalign® laboratory specialists to plan your orthodontics and design each aligner to move teeth in a calculated manner.

As your dentist, Dr. Thomas directly manages your orthodontic process to ensure that each adjustment is well planned to support your dental health. You visit our office every few weeks to check your progress and receive your new aligner. Learn more about Invisalign®

Dental Lasers

Lasers are used in dentistry in the diagnosis and treatment of conditions related to teeth and oral soft tissue. At Dental Designs of Savannah, dental laser technology is a part of our everyday routine. Some of the procedures that Dr. Thomas provides using dental lasers include:

Diagnostics

• Dr. Thomas uses a laser cavity detection system to assist in finding small areas of tooth decay and buildup of hardened tartar (calculus) below the gum line.

• Oral cancer screenings are crucial for detecting this life threatening disease as early as possible. In addition to a visual examination, Dr. Thomas uses a laser screening device that helps to highlight suspicious areas of soft tissue that could be cancerous.

Soft Tissue Procedures

• Dental lasers are invaluable for removal of diseased soft tissue that has been affected by periodontal disease. The focused laser energy destroys harmful bacteria and aids with tissue healing and growth of new tissue.

• Laser contouring of soft tissue can be used in cosmetic dentistry procedures to improve the appearance of a gummy smile or an uneven gum line. The dental laser creates a soft tissue seal and cauterizes the surgical incision area to promote healing; faster healing times reduce post-surgical discomfort.

• Cold sores on the lip and inside the mouth can be painful. In many cases, Dr. Thomas is able to use the dental laser to treat cold sores to reduce discomfort and speed healing.

Digital Radiography and 3D Imaging

Dental x-rays, or dental radiographs, have advanced from the days of film systems to digital processing. Dr. Thomas may recommend different views of radiographs, such as cavity x-rays (bitewings) and individual tooth x-rays to look for signs of tooth nerve damage, abscesses or bone loss. He may also request larger radiographs that display the jaw bone, facial structures and jaw joints (temporomandibular joints or TMJ).

Our office is equipped with all-digital dental radiography systems; digital x-rays require significantly less radiation exposure than the film x-rays of the past. Digital x-rays also give Dr. Thomas the ability to show you images of your teeth on a computer screen.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)

Savannah implant dentist Dr. Richard Thomas often utilizes Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) to assist with dental implant restorations, root canals and Invisalign® orthodontics. CBCT technology is a three-dimensional (3D) radiography system that is used to capture images of the facial structures, teeth and jaw anatomy.

Using CBCT technology, Dr. Thomas can rotate the 3D image to see the height of the jaw bone in all directions and identify the location of the nerve canals that connect to the roots of the teeth. This information is important in the planning stages of treatment.

CBCT imaging is used to analyze the jaw bone density and determine the best placement location for dental implants to support integration and healing. Dr. Thomas works closely with surgical specialists, oral surgeons and periodontists; the specialist will place the dental implant and Dr. Thomas will complete it with a final restoration. Dr. Thomas and your surgical specialist will review CBCT images to determine the best treatment plan for your implant restoration.

Digital Impression Scanner

If you have ever had dental impressions taken, you no doubt have an instant appreciation for ‘digital’ dental impression scanning. Similar to CEREC® dentistry, our digital intraoral scanner is equipped with a small camera that our clinical team uses to capture images of your teeth to send to our dental laboratory. The laboratory technicians work with Dr. Thomas using these images for virtual planning of laboratory-fabricated crowns, bridges, veneers, study models, or complete and partial dentures. And, the best part, digital impressions mean that you don't have to tolerate a mouthful of goopy, messy impression putty!

Dental Technology at your local Savannah dentist office

If you are ready to take the next step towards your dental health, Contact Dental Designs of Savannah to schedule a new patient consultation and complete dental examination. Dr. Thomas and Team will use our technology systems to keep you informed about your oral health and create a plan for your future smile.