While some dental practices are tried-and-true for keeping your teeth healthy, such as brushing after meals and flossing daily, advances in technology have provided dentists with newer and better options that can be used to optimize your dental health and provide a more comfortable experience in the dentist’s chair. At Gentle Care Dentistry in Azusa, CA, Dr. Brianne Luu is equipped with new dental technologies that enable her to provide an unsurpassed quality of care and patient comfort.
We are truly living in a digital age! Phones and computers are not the only things that have benefitted from the digital revolution. With the latest digital technology, dental imaging is more precise than ever before and Dr. Luu uses it to accurately diagnose and treat a variety of dental conditions. With 3D scanner, highly customized dental restorations such as dentures and night guards can be created rapidly so that you don’t have to wait for weeks or months for your new smile.
Dentists have traditionally needed to use instruments such as drills or scalpels that can produce uncomfortable sounds and pain during treatment. With the latest laser treatment options available in her office, Dr. Luu practices safe laser dentistry to treat conditions such as:
- Crown preparation
- Gum disease
- Cauterization of the gum
Dental veneers are thin pieces of material placed over the front of a tooth to hide any imperfections such as chips, discoloration, or misshapen teeth. Advances in the porcelain materials used for veneers have made them stronger and better looking than the veneer materials used in the past. At Gentle Care Dentistry, Dr. Luu consults with you about your specific needs and preferences to determine the best type of veneer material for your desired results.
Most people don’t look forward to a trip to the dentist that will involve needles or anesthetic agents that can make their mouth and face numb for hours. The dental experience can provoke anxiety in even the calmest of people. Fortunately, with the latest dental technology called The Wand®, Dr. Brianne Luu in Azusa, CA can provide a painless and more targeted anesthesia experience for patients so they can comfortably receive their treatment and quickly get back to their day.
What is The Wand?
The Wand is a replacement for the traditional syringes used to apply local anesthesia before dental treatments such as cavity fillings, periodontal cleanings, or other dental procedures. It is a computer-assisted device that allows the dentist to administer a precise dose of anesthetic to the exact location that it is needed.Much of the pain associated with a numbing shots in dentistry is due to the speed of which the anesthesia goes into the tissue. With The Wand, the numbing agent is administered at a controlled rate with minimal pressure so that the pain associated with the shot is nearly eliminated.
What are the benefits of The Wand?
The Wand has many benefits over traditional needles when used in dental injections:- It doesn’t look like a syringe, which can reduce anxiety for patients who dislike needles or shots;
- Because of the precise rate and pressure that the dose is administered, the experience is more comfortable, leading to a more relaxed patient;
- It numbs the individual tooth or teeth being treated, which means that patients can return to their normal activities immediately afterwards without fear of drooling, a drooping mouth, or the inability to properly speak or eat.
Dental impressions are widely used in dental practices for a variety of purposes, from creating custom-made dental crowns or dentures to cosmetic treatments such as Invisalign. At Gentle Care Dentistry in Azusa, CA, Dr. Brianne Luu has invested in the latest 3D imaging technology, called the iTero Element scanner, to provide the best patient experience and highest quality dental care possible.
iTero Element scanner: how it works
The iTero Element scanner is an advanced digital scanner that generates a precise 3D image of your mouth. In contrast to x-rays or dental impressions, which can only take one image/impression at a time, the iTero Element scanner takes up to 20 pictures per second. As the pictures are taken over a few minutes, a 3D image of your teeth and gums emerges on the computer screen for the dentist to use in treatment planning.Uses for the iTero Element scanner
This advanced scanning technology can be used for a variety of purposes such as:- Creating imprints of dental restorations such as crowns, bridges, dentures, or implants;
- Creating oral appliances such as mouth guards or night guards for teeth grinding;
- Invisalign consultation and planning;
- Invisalign progress assessment;
- Diagnosing issues with your teeth or gums;
- Help in identifying the right treatment plan for your specific dental issues.
Benefits of 3D imaging
There are many benefits to using 3D imaging instead of traditional molds that use putties to take a physical impression of the teeth.- The digital images created by the iTero Element scanner are much more accurate than physical dental impressions.
- When the scans are used to plan out treatments such as Invisalign, patients can see the end results before the treatment even begins!
- Perhaps of most importance to the patient, the 3D imaging process is much more comfortable. Instead of sitting with bad-tasting, bulky putty in their mouths that leave a chalky residue and can trigger gag reflexes, a small camera is simply inserted in the mouth to take the mold. This provides for improved patient comfort.
