Our Technology
Every job has its associated tools, and dentistry is no different. Unfortunately for us, some
of the tools of our trade have fostered negative connotations in years past. Well times have
changed, and so have we. Our office is equipped with the most modern dental technologies available.
From our Diagnodent (laser cavity detection), Digital Intra and Panoral Radiography, Intraoral Digital
Photography, to automated Steam Sterilization, fully equipped emergency kit with an Automated External
Defibrillator (AED), to a Diode Laser, and CEREC CAD/CAM technology. We don’t try to impress you with
our fancy tools, but we do want to impress you with how well we use them to get great results.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
While we like to laugh and enjoy our work, we know that we must be ready for trouble too.
That is why we all maintain current CPR training; keep our emergency kit up to date (and available
at a moments notice), and an Automated External Defibrillator AED. An AED will deliver a shock to
the heart to allow it to restart in the event of certain cardiac emergencies.
Our AED is mounted right in the Treatment Area hallway for everyone to see and get to if needed.
No one wants to have an emergency… but we are prepared if you do.
CEREC
In 2007 Dr. O’Keefe decided to enter the world of single visit ceramic inlays/onlays, crowns and
veneers. CEREC the technology by Sirona allows us to shape a tooth, scan the image of that
preparation with an intraoral blue laser camera, and send that data to our milling unit to
construct an all ceramic crown for polishing or characterization-glazing and bonding into place
– all during one appointment. No longer do we need to worry about losing a temporary crown while
waiting for a dental lab to make the final restoration, which would have to be cemented during a
second appointment. We have been able to use our CEREC system to restore broken anterior and
posterior teeth when accidents happen. Also Dr O’Keefe has been asked to lecture on using CEREC
to make crowns for implants.
This is the most rapidly evolving area of dentistry so our equipment may change as improvements in
hardware and software keep up with patient needs.
Diagnodent
The grooves in the chewing surfaces of teeth are common sites for cavities to start. Some of these
locations can be undetectable through normal diagnostic techniques, because of their minute size.
That is why we have the Diagnodent laser cavity detection system. Decayed tooth structure reflects
the precision laser light of the Diagnodent differently than sound tooth structure. These differences
are measured and recorded to aid in diagnosis.
Obviously the earlier tooth decay is detected the less damage can be done to the tooth structure
and the easier to repair.
Digital X-Rays
When we moved to our new office in 2002, O’Keefe decided that the future of dental radiography would be
digital. We have used several systems and have grown confident using the Schick Dicom CDR Elite system.
We have two reasonably sized intraoral sensors and an extraoral IPan for our Planmecca Panoral machine to
allow us to create detailed digital radiographic images. The images can displayed on our large Operatory
computer monitors. Obviously, the more that we can see the better our diagnoses can be.
Also because our images are digital we are able to send them to other dentists, specialists, or insurance
companies on your behalf at a moments notice via the Internet.
Intraoral Camera
A picture says 1000 words, so we use intraoral photography to evaluate, teach, store and transmit
information to others. Our camera is a tiny wand producing photos of incredible clarity. We can
capture images of almost any tooth or tissue surface quickly and easily.
The photos on our website were taken with it!
Navigator Diode Laser
Dentistry is still unable to replace the dreaded drills with lasers, but there are some instances
where lasers can really help. We have the Navigator Diode Soft Tissue Laser for these instances.
A diode laser is used to treat conditions involving gum tissue with very little anesthesia required.
We can treat local gum conditions, without needing to refer to a Periodontist, and some surgical
procedures such as frenectomy or removal of fibrous lesions without a surgeon. The Navigator Laser has
also proven to be effective in canker sore treatment.
So Star-Trek no … modern dentistry yes.
Rotary Endodontic System
The words “you need root canal therapy” usually strike fear into the hearts of people.
This fear was born from how things used to be. In years gone by root canal therapy was usually performed
over three separate, long appointments only using hand tools. Each appointment took a long time, and had
limited predictable results. Well the future is here. We use rotary files with electric motor dental
headpieces made specifically for them. This way we can usually complete canal therapy, even on complex
molars during one visit. Rotary files allow us to be very efficient and consistent in our root canal
therapy. Now we just have to help keep our patients from falling asleep!
Sterilization
Clean is good, but disinfected, and sterile is better. We always practice complete sterilization, and
universal precautions as outlined by the American Dental Association. All of our instruments or
ultrasonically cleaned, then bagged, and sterilized with steam under pressure in our state of the art
DeltaQ 10 autoclave. We test the effectiveness of our autoclave with a spore test every week and have done
so for many years. All of the surfaces in our treatment rooms are disinfected before and after each patient
treatment.
We know how important disinfection and sterilization are in preventing cross contaminations. We treat
our families here also!