At Wicker Park Dental Group, we believe that our patients deserve the latest and best that modern dentistry offers. That is why our dentists make it a point to stay current with emerging dental technologies and invest in those that we know improve patient comfort and our efficiency when performing dental treatments.
We would love to welcome you to our Chicago dental office to show you our technology in action, but until then, please take a look at what we currently offer.
Nitrous Oxide
If you get anxious about dental visits, we understand! You’re not alone, and we have many ways to keep you comfortable and relaxed, including nitrous oxide or laughing gas.
The goal of nitrous oxide is to help you relax just for the duration of your procedure but not leave you feeling drowsy afterward. Nitrous oxide is a gas we mix with oxygen and deliver through an inhalation mask that covers your nose. All you do is sit back and inhale normally and soon you’ll feel the comforting effects.
You will be fully conscious and able to communicate with your dental team. We will monitor you throughout your procedure and increase or decrease the flow of nitrous as needed. When treatment’s finished, we turn off the nitrous so you can breathe pure oxygen for several minutes. When you leave, you’ll feel alert and awake and will be able to drive yourself home safely.
Learn more about where we use this technology:
Digital X-Rays (Radiographs)
Our modern dental office uses digital x-rays and digital sensors to show our dentists what they can’t see with a visual examination, such as areas between teeth and below existing restorations. Digital dental x-rays also reveal gum disease, dental abscesses, and tumors and allow us to diagnose these conditions in their earliest stages.
In addition to the high-resolution images they provide, digital x-rays offer several benefits.
- Digital dental x-rays reduce exposure by as much as 80 percent compared to traditional film x-rays.
- The digital sensors used to capture x-ray images are flat with rounded edges so they fit comfortably in your mouth.
- You and your dentist can view digital x-rays instantly on your chairside monitor. The digital images can be manipulated to show you a problem in greater detail.
- Detecting and treating dental problems in their early stages saves you time, money, and the discomfort of tooth pain
- Digital x-rays are eco-friendly because they require no chemical processing or disposal of hazardous materials.
- Digital radiographs can be stored on our secure in-house network and are easy to share with specialists or insurance companies.
Learn more about where we use this technology:
Digital Impressions
Digital impressions are leading-edge technology that allows us to create a virtual model of your teeth without using messy impression material that so many patients find uncomfortable.
Once we capture the information, we then transfer it to a computer that lets our dentists view the mouth’s hard and soft tissues. Instead of taking impressions and creating a mold, our dentists use the virtual model to create restorations like crowns and bridges.
Learn more about where we use this technology:
Intraoral Cameras
Rotary Endodontics
If you dread the thought of root canals, you will appreciate rotary endodontics! Root canals performed using traditional methods are time-consuming because dentists use rigid manual steel files to clear away infected pulp.
Rotary endodontic technology does away with the painstaking process to perform root canals more efficiently. Instead of manual instruments, rotary endodontics uses an electric handpiece with a flexible nickel-titanium tip.
Since the tip bends and curves to conform to the canal’s shape, patients commonly experience less irritation. With rotary endodontics, we can perform root canals more efficiently, comfortably, and with more favorable long-term outcomes.
Learn more about where we use this technology:
3-D Cone Beam Imaging (CBCT)
Our 3-D cone beam imaging (CBCT or just CT) is leading-edge technology that we use when a traditional two-dimensional x-ray isn’t sufficient. A dental CT scan produces highly detailed 3-D images that show bone, soft tissues, nerve pathways, and teeth in a single view.
Taking CBCT scans is easy, non-invasive, and produces highly accurate results when planning dental implant placement and other advanced procedures. Some other benefits of using cone beam imaging at Wicker Park Dental Group are:
- 3-D scans provide us with more detail than a traditional x-ray, resulting in precise treatment planning.
- The focused cone beam scan produces higher-quality images.
- A single scan provides our dentists with a wide variety of angles and views.
With 3-D cone beam scanning, our dentists can perform a detailed evaluation of the jaw, sinuses, nasal cavity, and nerve canals for accurate diagnoses and treatment planning.