Our Technology
Intraoral Camera
We all watch in wonder as technologies are continually condensed and reduced in size. Today, we have the tiniest gadgets with capabilities that were once beyond even imagination. This same shrinking has occurred in dental technologies, and is best seen in the intraoral camera.
Patients who come to our office will marvel at the power of this pencil-sized device that can fit comfortably inside the patient’s mouth, and stream high definition video imagery of every nook and cranny. Because of the capabilities within this intraoral camera, our entire team is able to find and diagnose even the earliest indicators of gum disease or dental decay. We can also show you where your regular oral hygiene may be missing certain areas as you brush and floss. With the intraoral camera, we can better serve patients and leave them comfortable throughout.
Digital X-ray
Did you ever have what might be reasonably described as an old-fashioned dental X-ray? This would have required your dentist or hygienist to push a cardboard bite wing into your mouth, position it at an uncomfortable and awkward angle and then dash out to snap the X-ray all while hoping you could hold the bite wing in place. Fortunately, that process is at an end and digital X-ray systems are the norm.
Our patients can now enjoy the use of small sensors comfortably placed in their mouth, and moved only slightly to get the right angle. Digital X-ray systems are also our preferred method because they instantly project the images on the display in the treatment room, and all of this occurs while reducing radiation exposure by 90% over the old-fashioned methods.
3D CBCT Scanner
Digital X-rays and intraoral cameras are amazing devices for basic dental diagnostic processes. It is why we have them in our treatment rooms, yet some patients may require a bit more exploration or diagnosis, and this is why we also make the 3D CT Cone Beam (CBCT) available. This is a special variety of X-ray equipment that we put to use if your dental X-rays are not adequate to full diagnosis.
Our CBCT scanning system is amazing and can create a fully 3D image of the bone, nerves, soft tissues and teeth. It takes us less than two minutes to run a full scan and doing so supports the best results for any oral surgeries, TMJ treatments, and even orthodontic procedures. Our dentist also uses this technology to perform fully computer-guided dental implant placement operations for safer, more predictable results. We want our patients to enjoy the best outcomes, and we use CBCT scans to provide them!
Soft and Hard Tissue Laser
While it might surprise you to learn that dentists have been using lasers for more than two decades, you might even be more amazed to learn how advanced lasers have become. In our office, patients can be treated with both soft and hard tissue lasers that can provide some of the most precise and painless treatments imaginable.
Used for the teeth or jaw bone, they can also be put to use to reshape gum tissue, address tooth decay and perform different periodontal treatments. Oral surgeries and biopsies are made easier using laser dentistry and soft and hard tissue laser treatments are always known to be a bit more conservative and less invasive, while also preserving the health of your teeth and gums.
DIAGNOdent Laser Cavity Detection
How do we find dental decay when we examine your teeth and gums? We do so in many different ways. We do a visual exam and ask if you have sensitivity in areas where we suspect decay. We do X-rays to look for unmistakable proof of decay, and we also use intraoral cameras to get into those hard to see spots.
However, we also make use of an amazing device known as the DIAGNOdent laser device. This is a system that can find the earliest possible signs of dental decay. It can detect even the tiniest lesions or caries (bits of decayed tooth and bone), allowing our dental team to best preserve the most tooth material possible. Dentists know that caries are famous for playing “hide and seek”, remaining hidden until decay has really set in. The DIAGNOdent system is 90% accurate in finding the tiniest caries and enables superior treatment.
3D Imaging and Digital Impressions
Have you ever had classic impressions made of your teeth? If so, you know it involves your dental provider to press a tray full of very gummy material over the upper or lower arch and then waiting for it to harden before tugging it away. Though reasonably accurate, it is nowhere near as flawless and simple as 3D imaging and the digital impressions it creates.
This is why our office uses equipment like CT Cone Beam scans that create three-dimensional images of your jaws, gums, nerves and teeth. A simple device is held comfortably in your mouth, and it takes a fast and accurate scan with thousands of points of reference and data. This is then converted into a flawless, 3D image of your mouth, jaws and all of the tissue of the maxillofacial area. With such pinpoint accurate images, we can do everything from new crowns and implants to oral surgery like never before.
Oral Cancer Screenings
Oral cancer screenings are a very important part of the dental visit for the patient. With the advances in modern technology, we are now able to pinpoint the start of a potential problem much earlier in its evolution. The ability to do so is extremely important in being able to treat any issues prior to them becoming a major irreversible problem.
The oral cancer screening is often completed with an ultraviolet light or similar device that allows us to view issues that can't always be detected by the human eye under normal conditions.
Certain lifestyle choices can have a great impact on the health of tissues and your overall health in the mouth. If you are a smoker or heavy drinker, make sure to get regular screenings when you visit the dentist.
Panoramic X-rays
- Assess the need for orthodontics and evaluate the progress of treatment
- Analyze the development of periodontal disease
- Evaluate the TMJ (jaw joint) and diagnose a TMJ disorder
- Detect oral cancer
- Plan dental implant placement
- Diagnose cavities (tooth decay) and other dental problems
- Evaluate the extent of dental and/or facial trauma
- Detect abscesses, cysts, and tumors
Using the panoramic X-ray machine is fast and comfortable. The machine simply rotates around your head and provides our dentist with high-definition, nearly instantaneous images that we can then use to evaluate your oral health. We invite you to call or visit us today to learn more about panoramic X-rays.
Panorex
A panorex is a very impressive piece of imaging machinery in that it is capable of identifying many issues and structures that a normal X-ray is not. Initially you will sit in a chair with your chin on a small ledge. Once positioned in the machine, it will rotate around your entire head taking a full 360 degree view of the teeth, head, sinuses and bones.
The ability to view the full structure of your head as a whole is very informative to the dentist. It will allow us to see any potential problems and make sure that everything is functioning as it should be. The panorex is capable of viewing specific types of structural problems, infections or asymmetry among many others.
Rotary Endodontics
Endodontics, more commonly known as root canal, is a procedure where the roots or nerves of the tooth are removed. This is often due to the fact that they are infected and the tooth is causing pain.
Rotary Endodontics is a way of performing the root canal utilizing a specific electrical handpiece. This tool often makes the process faster and allows Kurz Family and Cosmetic Dentistry a way to perform the process with greater ease.
Schedule Your Visit
Ready to begin your journey to a healthier, more beautiful smile with Dr. Kurz? Contact us today to schedule your first visit. We are excited to welcome you and your family to our dental family at Kurz Family and Cosmetic Dentistry in Dacula, GA. Here, we treat every patient with the care and respect they deserve, ensuring that you leave with a smile.
