Norwood Dental is pleased to offer the latest, state of the art technology in the field of denistry today.

The Cerec Restoration System:
In the past, having a crown, inlay or onlay placed had always been a huge inconvenience. Two separate visits were required. Messy and uncomfortable impressions ( molds) were required. Patients had to endure wearing an uncomfortable temporary crown between appointments which often would dislodge requiring an additional visit to place the temporary back on the tooth. Sometimes the placement of the final permanent crown required local anesthesia. We are elated to say that those days are gone! The CEREC restoration system uses computer technology to fabricate your crown, inlay or onlay in a single visit. This means NO MORE TEMPORARIES!!! A special camera is used to capture images of your tooth. This means NO MORE MESSY UNCOMFORTABLE IMPRESSIONS!!! And best of all the restorations created by the CEREC system are highly esthetic and completed in one appointment. This means NO MORE WASTING OF YOUR VALUABLE TIME!!! CEREC restorations are an appropriate treatment choice for most teeth. They are durable and natural looking. We are excited to be able to offer this technology.

"Most Crowns, Inlays and Onlays can now be completed in one appointment without impressions or the need for a temporary crown. Currently, this technology is available in less than 10% of all dental clinics."

The Diagnodent:
Traditional methods used to identify tooth decay on biting surfaces of teeth relied upon visual inspection, x-rays and examination with instruments. These methods have served dentists well for many years. However, research has demonstrated that these methods can sometimes fail to identify areas of decay. Thankfully, the Diagnodent Cavity Detection System was developed. The Diagnodent uses a diagnostic laser which painlessly measures the density of the tooth surface detecting decay much earlier than was ever possible. Earlier detection results in earlier removal of the decay and therefore less invasive treatment. We are pleased to offer our patients this cutting edge technology.

"The Diagnodent allows dentists to detect tooth decay many years before it is visible on an x-ray!!!"

The Wand:
Most patients dread dental treatment. One of the most often cited reasons for fear of dental procedures is the fear of anesthetic injections. Traditionally, anesthetic has been delivered via a large needle and scary looking syringes. Is it any wonder that rational people fear dental anesthetic injections? Who wouldn't be frightened by this? Well, times have changed and for the better! We are proud to offer "The Wand", a computerized anesthetic delivery system which greatly reduces the discomfort experienced during traditional dental injections. When anesthetic is injected, discomfort is experienced when the anesthetic is injected too quickly and it is difficult for human hands to control injection speed. The Wand uses computer technology to maintain a slow steady rate of anesthetic delivery thereby reducing or eliminating discomfort. Many patients report that they were unaware that anesthetic was being given after experiencing The Wand! The Wand has made dental procedures more comfortable than ever before.

"The Wand is a computerized anesthesia delivery system which greatly increases the comfort of local anesthetic delivery."

Digital X-Rays:
Dental x-rays are an irreplaceable part of the diagnostic process. However, traditional dental x-rays have some drawbacks. They require hazardous chemicals to be processed. The packets in which the films are contained require sheets of lead foil and their use can be seen as somewhat environmentally unsound. The image quality of traditional film x-rays can degrade with time. Digital x-ray techniques eliminate these problems. In addition, digital x-rays require a lower dose of radiation. The images are stored on our patient database and the image quality does not degrade and is far less likely to be misplaced. Our image management software allows us to digitally enhance images for better resolution. We believe that digital imaging is the wave of the future and we are proud to offer this fine technology.

Patient Data Management Software:
Traditional dental charts contain all types of information. These items include x-rays, treatment notes, letters from specialists, forms, etc. Keeping track of all of these items can be difficult and may result in loss or misplacement of important records. Dental records are beginning to contain huge amounts of information and it is clear that dentists need a better way to manage all of this data. Paper folders are no longer the best way to organize this important information. This is why computers have been placed in all treatment rooms at Norwood Dental. Computers offer us a huge advantage in the management of large amounts of data. They allow storage of digital images and x-rays. Patient data items can be located with ease and team members no longer have to search through endless stacks of paper to find information. We enthusiastically embrace Data Management Software.

Digital Intraoral Cameras:
Since you cannot easily see into your own mouth, it is difficult for a dental professional to communicate to you what they are observing. Inability to communicate dental findings results in confusion for patients as they often cannot appreciate their dental condition when only a verbal description is used. Realizing the importance of being able to communicate effectively with patients lead the team at Norwood Dental to embrace Digital Intraoral Camera Technology. The camera is a small shaft slightly larger than a pen which is placed in the mouth and can be used to display any dental finding. The image appears on a large television screen so that the patient can view it. The images can be labeled so that the patient can easily make sense of the dental findings. Copies of these photos can be made for communication with specialists or insurance companies. The team has found this technology to be indispensable and the patients love being able to see what their therapist sees.

ViziLite
We now know that oral cancer claims one life every hour in the U.S. --- more than the number of lives lost to skin cancer, cervical cancer or Hodgkin's disease, and it is of great concern to Dr. Ross. Because early detection is the key to successful outcomes, this practice has incorporated ViziLite, a new, FDA-cleared medical technology for screening of oral cancer, into the standard of care of the practice, to ensure that you receive the most comprehensive oral cancer screening possible.

ViziLite is a simple, painless and non-invasive technology that improves the doctor's ability to visualize, evaluate and monitor suspicious areas at their earliest stages, before they can progress to something far more serious, and potentially life-threatening. ViziLite helps the doctor see what he/she can't see with the unaided eye. On the patient's first visit, and at every annual check-up, we will be performing a ViziLite oral cancer screening. (A brochure is available for you at the office)