Patient Information

Advanced Technology

Diode Laser

Dr. Ferrari incorporates the use of Diode lasers in the office. Diode lasers can be used for hygiene as well as treatment. In hygiene, the laser is used to decontaminate the pocket space and remove infected tissue. Diode lasers target inflammation seen in soft tissues and will not affect your teeth or bone tissue. This increases and improves periodontal health, reduces the number of harmful bacteria present in the body, and is quick and painless.
 
Dr. Ferrari utilizes her Diode laser in dental treatment during procedures such as gingivectomies, frenectomies, fibroma removal, treatment of cold sores and canker sores, teeth whitening, and gingival recontouring. Benefits of laser soft-tissue treatments include less tissue damage, precise control of tissue removal for various procedures, shorter healing time, and increased patient comfort. Laser whitening means less sensitivity, and a shorter time in the dental chair.

Precision Dentistry

When you seek care at our office, you are assured that Dr. Ferrari and her staff utilize the latest in technology to enhance the quality and fit for your dental care.

Our practice uses magnification to enhance the precision of patient care.

Dentistry is micro-surgery. Using magnification enables us to create dental restorations with incredibly precise fit and finish. You just can’t fulfill that level of care with the naked eye.

Many dentists use air-driven “hand-pieces” (the dental term for “drills”). While acceptable for many procedures, these “whiney sounding” air-powered hand pieces all have a degree of non-concentricity; they do not rotate perfectly smoothly.

For the most precise aspects of restorative procedures, we use electric hand-pieces. This results in extraordinarily precise interfaces between your tooth and your new restoration (crown, veneer, or filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise.
 
Reverse numbing Agent
 
Can numbness be reversed? Yes it can! OraVerse is the first and only product to rapidly reverse the lingering numbness of the lip and tongue from local dental anesthetic that contains a vasoconstrictor. Oraverse is administered by Dr. Ferrari immediately following your procedure to speed up the return of sensation in the soft tissues of the mouth. OraVerse is not recommended for use in children less than 6 years of age or weighing less than 33lbs. In clinical trials, the patients were able to regain normal sensation twice as fast vs. control so you can smile, speak and drink normally sooner and drooling is minimized. There is a small fee for the administration and there are no contraindications.
 
Digital Imaging

Dr. Ferrari chooses carefully which and when radiographs are taken. There are many guidelines that we follow. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes. Radiographs enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth, determine bone level, and analyze the health of your bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, as well as assess damage when trauma occurs.

Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs is extremely minimal. Dr. Ferrari utilizes Digital Imaging Technologies within the office. With digital imaging, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs. Digital imaging can also help us retrieve valuable diagnostic information. We may be able to see cavities better.

Digital imaging allows us to store patient images, and enables us to quickly and easily transfer them to specialists or insurance companies.

Digital X-Rays:

Digital X-rays offer more precision since we view the image on a computer monitor, instead of holding up a 35mm film up to the light. Digital X-rays results in 1/6th the radiation exposure to you.

Laser Dentistry

Among the newest technologies is the small laser instrument called the DIAGNOdent, which scans your teeth with harmless laser light searching for hidden decay. Locating hidden decay before it destroys tooth structure (from the inside out) is a major goal for modern dentistry. Diagnosing cavities beneath the hard surfaces of the tooth is more challenging because the disease process can start through microscopic defects in the hard surface enamel and can readily spread into the softer tooth structure beneath the surface. X-rays and probing with an explorer are limited in detecting subsurface decay, particularly when the cavity is in its early stages. The DIAGNOdent allows the dentist and hygienist to locate hidden decay, and with treatment stop the spread of disease before it destroys the tooth from within.They can find hidden decay in teeth in early stages, and in some cases the decay can be reversed through hygiene and fluoride treatment and may never need a filling.
 
Identafi
 
Deadly – and strangely silent in our society – Oral Cancer is growing at an alarming rate – over 11% in the United States alone. The five-year mortality rate of Oral Cancer is higher than, cervical cancer and prostate cancer, and kills one person every hour of every day.The signs and symptoms of oral cancer are often missed by the naked eye.
Identafi with its Identafi technology allows those on the front line of detection to do just that – identify biochemical and morphological changes in cells of the mouth, throat, tongue and tonsils.
 
Brush Biopsy
 
The high mortality rate from oral cancer is due to several factors, but undoubtedly, the most significant is delayed diagnosis. Studies have demonstrated that the survival and cure rate dramatically increase when oral cancer is detected in its precancerous stage or as an early stage disease.
The brush biopsy provides dentists with a diagnostic screening test.A brush biopsy is used only in patients with a visible mucosal spot,adjunct to the clinical examination, and is used to identify a disease at an early and curable stage. The test is simple to perform, office-based, and painless. Given the difficulty in clinically differentiating premalignant and early malignant oral lesions from those that are benign, the brush biopsy allows practitioners to test lesions that are encountered daily.
 
CEREC

What is CEREC? CEREC is an acronym…

  • Chairside: The technology is in the dental operatory and used while you are in the chair
  • Economical: The procedure is economical for both dentist and patient
  • Restorations: The procedure restores your tooth to its natural beauty, function, and strength
  • Esthetic: The restorations are metal-free and tooth-colored
  • Ceramic: High-strength ceramics are used that are close in composition to your natural tooth structure.

CEREC is an advanced dental restorative system that allows Dr. Ferrari to restore decayed teeth or remove defective amalgam fillings to place crowns, inlays and onlays in just one appointment. This allows you to have the highest quality, most life like dental restorations in just one visit to the dentist…in, out, and on with your busy life.

CEREC Acquisition Unit

The CEREC Acquisition Unit is mobile and houses a medical grade computer and the CEREC camera.Dr. Ferrari uses the camera to take a digital picture of your prepared tooth. This picture is used instead of a traditional impression. This means no impression tray and material for you to gag on. The computer and CEREC 3D software converts the digital picture to a three-dimensional virtual model of your prepped tooth.Dr. Ferrari then designs your restoration right on screen using the software while you wait (and watch!). This software can assistDr. Ferrari with designing any single tooth restoration: crowns, inlays (fillings), onlays (partial crowns), and veneers. Once Dr. Ferrari has designed your restoration (usually about 5 minutes), she clicks a button, and the design data is communicated via a wireless radio signal to the CEREC Milling Unit.

CEREC Milling Unit

Dr. Ferrari selects a ceramic block that matches the shade of the tooth being repaired.Her dental assistant then inserts the block into the Milling Unit. The data from the Acquisition Unit is used to direct two diamond-coated burs to carve the block into the indicated shape of the restoration. This process usually takes 12 to 20 minutes depending on the size and type of restoration. After the milling is finished, Dr. Ferrari polishes the finished filling or crown and bonds it into place.

CEREC is a registered trademark of Sirona Dental Systems

 
Air Abrasion
 
Our office has the convenience of “air abrasion”. By using this technique to remove decay, NO ANESTHETIC is needed. No needles! This is not always an option, however, by taking care of decay right when it’s detected, it allows Dr. Ferrari to use this method. Our unit sprays pressurized air, water and fine grit sand to safely and comfortably remove decay. Since no numbing is necessary, the patient is able to leave the office and not worry about being numb for hours afterwards.

Intraoral Camera

Many patients, especially younger patients, are very familiar with the latest technology and are comfortable with the high tech practice. Computers and TV screens are their primary method of information processing.

Dr. Ferrari utilizes intraoral camera technology that helps enhance your understanding of your diagnosis. An intraoral camera is a very small camera – in some cases, just a few millimeters long. An intraoral camera allows our practice to view clear, precise images of your mouth, teeth and gums, in order for us to accurately make a diagnosis. With clear, defined, enlarged images, you see details that may be missed by standard mirror examinations. This can mean faster diagnosis with less chair-time for you!

Intraoral cameras also enable our practice to save your images in our office computer to provide a permanent record of treatments. These images can be printed for you, other specialists, and your lab or insurance companies.