Why Advanced Technology Matters
They say a good mechanic never blames his tools. But would you want to get your car fixed by someone without the right diagnostic equipment? Of course not. That’s why our office is equipped with the advanced technology we need to do the job right.
At Watkins Dental Group, we have the technology we need to diagnose and treat a variety of dental issues. This doesn’t just save our patients time and money. It also guarantees that we’ll provide you with the best service possible.
Same Day Restorations with CEREC
CEREC stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics and it’s revolutionizing dental restoration. Before CEREC, it would often take weeks to restore a patient’s smile with a new crown, inlay, onlay, or bridge. But now we can do it in just one day.
The old way to do restorations meant 1) taking a mold by filling the restoration area with powder or goop 2) creating the mold 3) sending the mold to the lab and waiting for 10 to 14 days for it to be completed 4) having the patient return to our office to get their restoration.
But with CEREC, we take a digital impression of the restoration area and then we mill your restoration right here in our office. That’s how you can get a complete restoration in just one office visit. No more waiting, no more second visit, and no more goop!
Cosmetic Smile Imaging
Cosmetic dentistry is all about giving you the smile you want. And you want to know what we can do for your smile before you invest your time and money. With smile imaging at our Back Mountain office, you can see a digital image of what your restoration will look like before we begin treatment.
Dr. Watkins can use software to generate images of what your entire smile will look like after cosmetic dentistry as an easy way for you to compare treatment options and determine the right solution for your smile.
Panoramic X-rays and Digital X-rays
Panoramic x-rays provide a single, comprehensive image of all your teeth and surrounding bone. This gives you an excellent picture of your smile that includes your entire upper and lower jawbone, TMJ region, sinuses and the mandibular nerve. Panoramic x-rays are used to diagnose and provide early detection for several dental issues, including:
- Oral cancer
- TMJ
- Tooth alignment
- Impacted wisdom teeth
- Sinus issues
- Gum disease
Instead of using film like traditional x-ray technology, digital x-rays use a sensor to produce a computer image that’s instantly readable by your dentist. Digital x-rays use up to 90 percent less radiation than traditional x-rays, which makes them much safer.
You don’t need to wait for your digital x-rays to be developed, and this can shorten your dental appointments. Plus, the images are much more precise, leading to a better, more accurate treatment plan. As these images are digitally stored, we can instantly retrieve and send them.
Fighting Gum Disease
If gum disease is left untreated, it can wreak havoc on your smile. This bacterial infection afflicts almost 65 million Americans. Without proper treatment, patients can experience bone deterioration and tooth loss.
That’s why it’s important to practice effective home care and visit your Dallas dentist for regular checkups to protect your smile from gum disease. When gum disease is allowed to progress it becomes necessary to see a dentist to heal the damaged tissue.
Periodontal therapy can prevent you from needing more invasive surgical options. Our office can provide effective non-surgical treatment options for periodontal disease that can allow your gums to heal and save your smile.