Dentistry is definitely a field in which new technologies appear all of the time. Some of them are truly remarkable and provide patients with everything from new teeth (via dental implants) to painless treatments. Michael Miyamoto, DDS of Miyamoto Dental Design Suite Inc. in Wailuku, HI consistently monitors advances in technology, and then obtain the training and devices needed to provide patients with the many benefits such technologies provide.
Our dental office offers the latest innovations and technological advances including:
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- Intraoral cameras
- CEREC CAD/CAM dentistry
- Digital X-rays
- Biolase Waterlase soft tissue lasers
Intraoral Camera
Most of us know that a visit to the dentist involves one phrase: “Open wider…” This is because our dentists are trying their best to get a very good look at our teeth and gums. They use a mirror and get in close to detect any signs of trouble. This is why Michael Miyamoto, DDS of Miyamoto Dental Design Suite Inc. in Wailuku, HI were glad to invest in intraoral cameras and the training needed to use them.
Currently, we use Omnicam and AcuCam devices in our dental office. Omnicam is part of our CEREC technology and enables accurate rendering of crowns and restorations. AcuCam is used to do in-depth oral exams with options for zooming in on areas, rotating 90 degrees and allowing our doctors the best “real time” visuals without any mirrors or guess work.
Digital X-Rays
If you are of a certain age, you may remember the “old days” of dental x-rays. You had uncomfortable negatives positioned in your mouth, you wore a lead vest, and your hygienist left the room whenever an x-ray was made. You then waited for the slides to be developed, and if one was not good, you had to repeat the process. Thankfully, those days are done, and Michael Miyamoto, DDS of Miyamoto Dental Design Suite Inc. in Wailuku, HI offers our patients digital x-rays in our dental office.
Using an advanced sensor rather than film, our system reduces your exposure to radiation by roughly 90% over traditional methods while providing much more accurate and in-depth imagery. As soon as the digital x-rays are made, they appear on a computer screen and enable the doctors to detect everything from decay between teeth to tumors, abscesses, poor root positioning and more.
CEREC®
Many people have dental crowns. The experience of getting them involved was an initial visit to the office, where the treatment was done to the tooth and a temporary crown placed. Once the custom crown came back from the lab (up to two weeks later), they would return and have the new crown bonded. Though a reliable approach, it was disruptive, and not always as accurate as desired. This is why and Michael Miyamoto, DDS of Miyamoto Dental Design Suite Inc. in Wailuku, HI are thrilled to offer CEREC technology.
Also called “same day crowns”, the system uses an advanced intraoral camera to help create a three-dimensional image of the crown required. Then a special milling machine in our dental office actually creates the new porcelain crown while you wait. This allows us to get a perfect fit and match, and eliminates the need for a few days or weeks of waiting and then returning for the bonding process. CEREC is a major innovation in the field of dentistry, and if you need dental crowns, you will want to inquire.
Hard and Soft Tissue Laser
If you need some sort of gum treatment, whether due to periodontal disease or another dental health issue, you will require an anesthetic and you may need to deal with sutures, bleeding and the risk for infection. This is why Michael Miyamoto, DDS of Miyamoto Dental Design Suite Inc. in Wailuku, HI has trained in the use of Biolase Waterlase® hard and soft tissue laser technology in our dental office.
Patients to our office can benefit from this atomized water and laser technology for any soft tissue treatment, and without the need for anesthesia. The laser handles any sterilization needs, eliminating the threat of infection, and delivers a far more precise treatment of soft tissue. No adjacent areas are traumatized or affected, only minimal bleeding occurs, and the soft tissue laser is pinpoint accurate.
The Biolase Waterlase hard and soft tissue laser is also a good substitute for traditional dental drilling, and if you want to learn more about this option for your treatments in our dentist office, get in touch today at our Wailuku, HI dentist office.
K7 Kinesiography®
The K7 Kinesiography is an electrodiagnostic instrument that helps Dr. Miyamoto diagnose and treat temporomandibular joint dysfunction (TMD). This technology is highly sensitive for an accurate diagnosis. The K7 Kinesiography is a computerized mandibular scanner that uses several different techniques to analyze and display jaw movements and jaw positioning. As a result, any abnormal movements not normally able to be seen with the naked eye, is visible with the assistance of this technology. With the K7, Dr. Miyamoto can more effectively treat patients for a lifetime of results.
CariVu®
The DEXIS CariVu is a small and portable device that uses transillumination technology to detect occlusal, recurrent and interproximal carious cracks and lesions. The safe, near-infrared light hugs the tooth to make the enamel appear transparent while porous lesions light up. This then allows the dentist to see the exact tooth structure with a high accuracy. The images taken with the CariVu appear much like an x-ray where lesions appear dark. The CariVu is more accurate at detecting caries than with x-rays or a visual exam alone.
One of the best benefits of our dentists using the CariVu during your dental exam is that we can identify and detect small problems before they progress and become more painful and difficult and expensive to treat. This will save you from a lot of pain and money in the future! The CariVu can also help us create a more accurate and effective treatment plan since we will have a better picture of what’s going on in your tooth than from x-rays alone.
