Technology

Family Dentist in Athens

Our state-of-the-art technologies ensure accuracy, efficiency, and comfort. Our dental equipment is safe, effective, and well-maintained. Some of our dental technologies include those listed below:

Digital X-Rays

Our advanced digital x-rays magnify and enhance your teeth for better diagnosis and treatment. This technology allows us to take images of your teeth and display them on a computer screen quickly and easily.

With digital x-rays, we can view your teeth and surrounding structures with remarkable accuracy.  These images provide the information we need to plan your dental treatment.

Digital x-rays require much less radiation than traditional film x-rays. Digital x-rays are a safe and effective dental technology.

Panoramic X-Ray

A Panoramic x-ray machine rotates around your entire head to take a 360-degree view of your teeth, sinuses, and the bone structure of your head and jaws. This provides a more complete image than standard x-rays. Panoramic x-ray imagery is a valuable resource for Drs. Harris, Hood, and Talbert to use in diagnosis and treatment planning.

Cone Beam Imaging

Cone Beam imaging is an advanced form of digital radiograph. With the cone beam imager, one simple scan will produce a 3D image of your entire maxillofacial structure. This image can then be used in diagnostics, patient education, treatment planning, and treatment follow-up.

The cone beam provides an effective solution to create quick, clear, precise images for your benefit. Additionally, the cone beam uses minimal radiation in scanning and is a much less-invasive process than other forms of imaging. This makes the cone beam an excellent choice for patients with dental anxiety or a sensitive gag reflex.

By utilizing advanced technologies like the cone beam, we can provide an effective, efficient, and comfortable patient experience for you on every visit.

Intra-oral Camera

The intra-oral camera is about the size and shape of a pen. It is used to record images of your teeth, gums, mouth, and tongue from inside your mouth. Due to its small size and sleek design, it is comfortable, easy to use, and able to view a wide range of angles. The intra-oral camera is a safe and effective tool that can be used with patients of every age.

The intra-oral camera is a highly valuable resource for both diagnosis and treatment planning. Each time we use the intra-oral camera, a new disposable cover is employed. This ensures your health and safety at all times. After your exam, images captured by the intra-oral camera may be digitally stored, printed out, or deleted.

Soft Tissue Lasers

With soft tissue lasers at our disposal, Drs. Harris, Hood, and Talbert can provide precise high-quality treatments that are relatively pain-free, less invasive, and useful for a wide variety of dental treatments.

A laser is essentially a tiny beam of highly concentrated light. This beam can be used to provide pinpoint accuracy in treatments. Because the laser sterilizes the tissues and seals off blood vessels as it is used, the chance of infection or bleeding following laser treatment is minimal. The soft tissue laser is minimally-invasive, but highly effective.

With the highly versatile soft tissue laser, our doctors can seal nerve endings and blood vessels and treat soft tissues simultaneously. This creates less stress on the gums, which significantly reduces both swelling and bleeding. Moreover, by using the soft tissue laser, your doctor minimizes patients’ discomfort both during and after the treatment and lessen their recovery time.

Drs. Harris, Hood, and Talbert uses soft tissue laser technology to provide our patients with precise dental care with a comfortable dental experience.

Cavitron

The Cavitron is a handheld device used in periodontal deep cleaning. While scaling can be completed by hand, the Cavitron uses ultrasonic technology to remove calculus from teeth and gums quickly, gently and effectively.

With the Cavitron, patients enjoy a more comfortable experience and time spent scaling and polishing is decreased.

Intra-Oral Scanner

What is the secret to making a great impression? At Dental Associates of Athens, we use our intra-oral digital scanner to ensure that the impressions we take are accurate, efficient, and comfortable every time.

Impressions are necessary for the fabrication of dental restorations, such as crowns, bridges, and dental implants. Our hand-held intra-oral scanner takes 3-dimensional digital video impressions with proven accuracy. Even the most challenging cases can be accurately scanned with our intra-oral scanner.

Another benefit to you is reduced time. When we send precise digital scans to our lab, your restorations require less preparation work and can be fabricated more quickly. This means you can have your restoration placed and be enjoying the results sooner than with traditional impression methods.

In the past, you may have experienced dental trays that filled with a soft substance that hardened into an impression of your mouth and teeth. With the intra-oral scanner’s small hand-held wand, we can take accurate digital impressions quickly and easily, without tripping your gag reflex.

Even more, as we complete your scan, you will be able to view the impression on the monitor along with us. This allows you to see more precisely why we have recommended restoration for your oral health needs.

We look forward to seeing you again at your next appointment with us. We love to make a great impression.

CEREC Same-day Dental Restorations

Dental Associates of Athens has integrated the use of CEREC technology to offer same-day dental restorations to our patients. We are committed to providing the most efficient and effective innovations available, and the CEREC is no exception. The patented CEREC CAD/CAM technology designs and crafts high quality, metal-free dental restorations in a single patient visit.

CEREC makes dental restoration effective and efficient.  First, any decay is removed from the tooth.  Next, we take digital images of the tooth using CEREC’s 3D modeling software.  This 3D model is viewed on a high definition screen as our expert dentist designs the restoration for a precise fit and aesthetically pleasing look. Once the final design is complete, the CEREC machine crafts the custom restoration from a solid block of ceramic. This creates strong and highly durable restorations. In about 15 minutes, the restoration will be ready for placement.  Once bonded in place, it is adjusted and polished for a natural, beautiful look.

Using CEREC, patients can leave an appointment with a brand-new restoration.  CEREC ends the need for multiple appointments, messy impressions, and weeks of waiting for a lab to make the restoration. Temporary restorations are no longer needed. CEREC is ready the same day.

You may be a candidate for CEREC if you:

  • Have been told you need a new crown, inlay, onlay or bridge
  • Have a cracked tooth
  • Have old failing restorations
  • Have had damage or trauma to your tooth
  • Are interested in replacing old metal restorations with biocompatible restorations

In general, a CEREC crown appointment can take less than two hours and requires no additional appointments.  The 3D imaging technology allows Drs. Harris, Hood, and Talbert to design a precise virtual restoration without taking impressions.  This allows us to ensure restorations look great, fit perfectly, and can last for years.

The doctors at Dental Associates of Athens have the experience and qualifications to care for same day dental restorations.  For more information about CEREC or to schedule an appointment, contact Dental Associates of Athens.

Rotary Endodontics Handpiece

A rotary endodontics handpiece is a tool designed to be used in root canal therapy. By using this handpiece, we can complete the treatment gently and efficiently. This allows you to have a quicker and more comfortable treatment experience.

Nomad™ X-Ray Gun

The Nomad™ handheld x-ray system is battery-powered for completely cordless portability. With the Nomad™ gun, we can take accurate, efficient scans with less radiation exposure than most conventional systems. The Nomad™ is comfortable, convenient, and can be used in any treatment room.

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Dental Office

Athens Family Dentist

Dental Associates Near Me

Athens Location

105 S Hine St
Athens, AL 35611

(256) 232-1404

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