| Manufacturers estimate only 15 to 25% of | | | | drill-free air abrasion dentistry allows me to |
| dentists have a digital X-ray system in their | | | | practice micro-dentistry, the removal of small |
| office, and according to a 2004 study in The | | | | hard to get to fissure and pit decay." Prior to this |
| Journal of the American Dental Association, fewer | | | | technology the dentist had to remove healthy |
| than 12% of U.S. dentists rely exclusively on digital | | | | tooth structure to clean out a small hole. Often |
| radiography. But Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist, Dr. | | | | dentists were programmed to "watch" teeth like |
| Kourosh Maddahi, finds that this high tech device | | | | this because using the tools available would cause |
| is fundamental now in cosmetic dentistry, and he | | | | the loss of too much tooth structure to get out |
| needs to have the details he gets from this | | | | the decay. Now with micro dentistry's air abrasion |
| essential tool. "In only three seconds the X-ray | | | | the decay is delicately removed without the large |
| image will transfer to the computer. Using digital | | | | loss of healthy tooth structure. Dr. Maddahi also |
| X-rays one has the ability to magnify, colorize, | | | | employs the use of Digital Cosmetic Imaging, |
| and alter the density of the image.", explains | | | | which shows each patient a computerized split |
| Maddahi. "With digital x-rays not only does the | | | | image photograph of his or her smile. On the top |
| patient receive 90% less radiation than | | | | one half of the screen is their current smile and |
| conventional x-rays but this computerized system | | | | on the bottom is a digital simulation of their smile |
| allows me to e-mail x-rays instead of having to | | | | after the cosmetic dentistry has been performed. |
| hand carry them to another specialist. No old | | | | And his Digital Bite Recorder is a computerized |
| school bio-hazardous x-ray solution is required; | | | | bite sensor that tells the cosmetic dentist which |
| therefore there is no negative impact on the | | | | tooth hits first and the amount of pressure being |
| environment. This also is important to me." Dr. | | | | exerted. Only 200 dentists in the US have this |
| Maddahi also uses IntraOral Cameras, which are | | | | equipment. We use it for multiple crown cases. |
| pen-shaped cameras that the dentist uses to | | | | This way every patient gets a stable bite without |
| show patients with clarity each tooth and gum | | | | having to do multiple adjustments. Laser dentistry |
| surface in the mouth. Another important tool is a | | | | is known to be the latest technological |
| high-tech microscope. This high resolution state of | | | | advancement in dentistry. It is used for soft |
| the art 40x by 1600x Trinocular Compound | | | | tissue surgery, curing, and sterilizing with the |
| Microscope allows the patient, the hygienist, and | | | | benefit of no anesthetic needed or just topical |
| the doctor to digitally view moving bacteria from | | | | anesthetic to get started. Dr. Maddahi's entire |
| the mouth on a computerized video screen. This | | | | staff underwent training on the soft tissue laser. |
| takes the guesswork out of killing germs. Bacteria | | | | "It is important for all my staff to understand the |
| are the cause of gum disease, and going | | | | application and value of laser dentistry for our |
| undetected can cause the patient to lose his/her | | | | patients.", Dr. Maddahi explained. "The primary |
| teeth. Once Dr. Maddahi identifies the specific | | | | focus of looking after the patient's comfort using |
| bacteria in the mouth using this special microscope | | | | the least invasive procedures has kept him on the |
| he can specifically diagnose the hygiene needed to | | | | cutting edge of technological breakthroughs. Our |
| get rid of it. When a patient simply needs decay | | | | hygienists routinely use the laser to kill bacterial |
| removed from a tooth, Dr. Maddahi can apply his | | | | caused periodontal disease for up to 60 days. The |
| drill-free dentistry by air-abrasion which is like a | | | | benefit to the patient is that it is more effective |
| mini sandblaster aimed to take the decay out of | | | | and less traumatic than conventional methods |
| the tooth with a fine aluminum oxide (baking | | | | because it uses the power of light to vaporize |
| soda) powder. Dr. Maddahi says drill-free air | | | | soft tissue without bleeding. The precision of laser |
| abrasion dentistry is every patient's dream. | | | | dentistry helps the patient heal with the least |
| "There's no whining drills, no burning smell (the | | | | post-operative pain. Beverly Hills cosmetic dentist |
| teeth never get hot), no vibration, and no | | | | Kourosh Maddahi uses the soft tissue laser to |
| anesthetic required. It's almost no dentistry, as we | | | | recontour gumlines for the best possible smile |
| knew it! This drill-free dentistry goes hand-in-glove | | | | makeover." Dr. Kourosh Maddahi, has been |
| with DIAGNOdent, a laser system that finds | | | | specializing in creating beautiful, natural smiles for |
| decayed areas prior to even seeing the hole on | | | | 20 years and is located in Beverly Hills at 436 N. |
| the surface of the tooth, thereby locating | | | | Roxbury Drive, Suite 202 and can be reached at |
| decayed areas that x-rays do not detect. Plus | | | | 310-888-7797. |