Our state-of-the-art facility is equipped with the most advanced technology available. We offer digital x-Rays, intra-oral cameras, diagnostic lasers, and Zoom!™ -- the latest tooth whitening technique. Patients may recognize the brand name Zoom!™ as the whitening procedure preferred by cosmetic dentists on ABC’s hit television show Extreme Makeover.

• Digital X-rays
• Intra Oral Camera
• CAD/CAM
• Sterilization and Patient Safety

Digital X-rays

Traditionally, dentists use x-rays to find out what's going on below the surface, developing them in a darkroom full of chemicals, and examining the resulting films on a special light board.

Digital radiography entirely outmodes that cumbersome process. Now, a tiny sensor placed in the mouth acts like a miniature VCR camera with an x-ray sensitive chip, exposing you to 50%-90% less radiation exposure than with traditional x-ray techniques. The resulting highly detailed image of your mouth is almost instantaneously translated onto our computer screen, carrying with it all the conveniences of other digitized images. We can rotate it, magnify it, adjust it for contrast, and even color-code it for educational purposes. Because it helps our patients clearly understand the root issues behind their dental health, we're able to work together to determine the very best treatment options for each case.

Close

Intra Oral Camera

This wonderful new technology allows you to relax in your chair while simultaneously observing a real-time pictures of the inside of your mouth magnified beyond normal size on an adjacent computer monitor! Not only does this make it simple to see and understand what the doctor is telling you, but it makes it simple for us to keep incredibly accurate records from one visit to the next.

Close

CAD/CAM Computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacture (CAD/CAM), as embodied in the CEREC system, enables the fabrication of high-quality esthetic ceramic restorations such as inlays onlays, porcelain veneers and all ceramic crowns chair side in a single visit. It eliminates the need for impressions, temporary crowns, lab time and can produce a restoration while the patient waits. It also eliminates the discomfort with temporaries. With this automation, consistency in quality is provided. The rapid creation of tooth-colored restorations at chair side has been achieved through quick and easy optical impression-taking, simple designing, and precise machining. Durable, cosmetic, nonmetal filling in only one appointment, in less than an hour, contributes markedly to quality care and patient satisfaction.

PROCEDURE Exam and Preparation First, Dr. Carlston examines the tooth and determines the appropriate treatment depending on remaining healthy tooth structure. He first numbs the tooth by administrating anesthesia and removes existing restorative material, recurrent decay and prepares the tooth for the final CEREC restoration.

Optical Impression Then, Dr. Carlston takes an Optical Impression of the prepared tooth. He coats the tooth with a non-toxic, tasteless powder. A camera is then used to take a digital picture of your tooth. This whole Optical Impression process only takes a minute or two. It eliminates the need of the usual impression procedure and the need to fabricate a temporary.

Fabrication and Cementation of final CEREC Restoration The CEREC 3D software takes the digital picture and converts it into a 3-dimensional virtual model on the computer screen. Dr. Carlston designs the restoration using the CEREC 3D computer program. Within a few minutes, with a click of a button restoration design data is sent to a separate milling machine in the office. A ceramic block that matches your tooth shade is placed in the milling machine. About 10 - 20 minutes later, your all-ceramic, tooth-colored restoration is finished and ready to bond in place. Finally, Dr. Carlston tries the restoration in your mouth to ensure proper fit and bite. The restoration is then polished and bonded to the prepared tooth. Your tooth is restored with no "temporary" or return trip necessary. All of this is done in a single appointment! Call us today about CEREC restorations.

Sterilization and Patient Safety

Our office uses state of the art sterilization to ensure patient safety. Sterilization and disinfection are the basic steps in instrument processing and surface asepsis. Sterilization refers to the use of a physical or chemical procedure to destroy all forms of microorganisms, including the highly resistant spores.

We use Rapid Steam Autoclave at 275º F(35psi), for 15-20 minutes

First, the instruments are prepared for the sterilization process. Patient debris and fluids are removed by placing the instruments in 3.2% glutaraldehyde for 40 minutes .Following this pre-disinfection step the instruments are transferred to an ultrasonic cleaner for another 15 minutes .Then the instruments are rinsed, dried, placed in self sealing sterilization pouches and sterilized in the autoclave. Instruments which can not be heat sterilized, are immersed in 2% glutaraldehyde for 10 hours to cold sterilize.

We use Biological, Chemical and Mechanical indicators to monitor our sterilization process.

Using bacterial spores to monitor the sterilization process is referred to as biologic monitoring (or spore-testing), and the bacterial spores used for monitoring the sterilization process are referred to as biologic indicators (BIs). Of the three methods, biologic monitoring is regarded as the most valid for monitoring the sterilization process, for it uses live, highly resistant bacterial spores.
We biologically monitor our sterilizer once a week to ensure complete sterilization using spore strips and keep accurate records for our monitoring. These strips are enclosed in a glassine envelope and processed through the sterilizer. They are then sent to our spore testing center where they are tested for live spores.

Chemical monitoring involves using chemical indicators (CIs) that change color or form when exposed to specific high temperatures or to the sterilizing conditions within a sterilizer. This is referred to as chemical monitoring (or process monitoring). We use sterilization pouches that have special marking that change color when subjected to sterilizing temperatures.

Mechanical monitoring involves observing and recording the physical aspects (e.g., temperature, pressure, or time) of the cycle when the sterilizer is being operated. Our Sterilizer is serviced regularly to ensure proper functioning.

Close