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