Modern Dental Technology
A Top Dentist in Springfield, VA
At LIFE Advanced Integrated Dentistry, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence in dentistry. Dr. Chin invests in leading-edge technology because it is an investment in you and your oral health. Our state-of-the-art technology includes digital X-rays, intraoral cameras, and advanced diagnostic tools. These innovations enable us to provide more accurate diagnoses, plan precise treatments, and achieve superior results. By utilizing cutting-edge technology, we enhance efficiency, reduce treatment times, and ensure a comfortable experience for our patients.
Digital X-Rays & Sensors
Dentists can’t treat what they can’t see, making digital x-rays-rays an indispensable tool in diagnosing conditions we can’t see with a visual examination. With these technologies, we can detect early signs of dental issues, such as cavities or gum disease, before they progress. With early intervention, we can prevent conditions from worsening and becoming painful or complex to treat.
Digital x-rays also expose you to significantly less radiation than traditional x-rays that use film. The digital sensors capture high-definition images and fit comfortably in your mouth for improved comfort. We store your x-rays securely in your digital patient record, making them readily accessible to Dr. Chin and our team as needed.
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Digital Impressions & Wellness Scans
Digital impressions are a giant leap forward in improving patient comfort and the outcomes of the results we produce for you. Do you remember the big metal trays filled with pink paste that you had to hold in your mouth? Digital impressions eliminate the need for this process in most cases. Instead, we move a handheld intraoral scanner over your teeth, which captures digital images displayed on a computer monitor. The result is a highly detailed 3-D virtual impression of your teeth. These images allow us to plan and design highly accurate and precise restorations like crowns and bridges that fit your teeth perfectly.
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Nitrous Oxide
Also called laughing gas or inhalation sedation, nitrous oxide is a great solution to relieve dental anxiety. Nitrous oxide is a slightly sweet-smelling gas blended with oxygen that you breathe in through a soft, comfortable nasal mask. As you inhale, you’ll begin to feel drowsy and a little fuzzy, and you won’t be so aware of the activity around you.
When we finish your procedure, we stop administering nitrous and have you inhale pure oxygen for several minutes. When you leave us, you will feel clear-headed and refreshed, and you can safely drive yourself home from your dental appointment at LIFE Advanced Integrity Dentistry.
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Rotary Endodontics
If you don’t like root canals, you’ll appreciate our new technology that streamlines the procedure so you spend less time in the dental chair.
With rotary endodontics, modern technology replaces manual instruments and does a precise and thorough job of cleaning infected root canals. Instead of painstakingly cleaning out the root canal by hand, electrically-driven rotary endodontics uses a flexible tip to do the job.
The benefit for you is a more comfortable and efficient procedure, with no strange or unpleasant sensations. The flexible tip also allows our dentist to reach into curved canals to efficiently remove every trace of infection.
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3-D Cone Beam Imaging (CBCT)
One of the great breakthroughs in modern dental technology is the 3-D cone beam. Also referred to as CBCT, this type of digital scan provides a wealth of information that we cannot obtain with two-dimensional digital x-rays.
CBCT is crucial for planning procedures like dental implant placement, tooth extractions, and root canals. These digital scans provide a 3-D image of all your dental anatomy, including underlying bone structure, nerve pathways, and soft tissue. We use CBCT scans to identify bone loss, TMJ irregularities, and infections.
Understanding the position of these features and their orientation to each other allows our dentist to plan implant placement with precision and accuracy. Since there is no guesswork, we can place implants efficiently and achieve the best possible outcomes.
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Intraoral Cameras
Did you ever sit through a dental exam and wish you could see what your dentist sees? Now you can! Our handheld intraoral camera captures images of your teeth in real time and projects the magnified images on your chairside monitor.
As our dentist in Alexandria examines your teeth, you can see what she sees, allowing you to play an active part in your dental care. Instead of being told about a worn or broken tooth, now you can see it in detail. We can pause during a procedure and use the intraoral camera to show you the progress we’ve made and also to give you a peek at the final result when we’re finished. You will better understand your dental needs and be empowered to make informed decisions about your treatment.
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Digital Records
Using digital records benefits your dental care in many ways. Thanks to streamlined record-keeping, we can spend less time searching for information and more time tending to your needs. Having all your information at the touch of a button means all our team members can access and share details to ensure the safest and most effective treatment. Digital records also allow Dr. Chin to easily share information with insurance companies, specialists, and physicians as needed.
Oral Health Wellness Scans
Wellness scanning at LIFE A.I.D. uses a sophisticated intraoral scanner that takes thousands of digital images to capture your teeth and gum structures. This process takes 3–5 minutes and is safe and comfortable because it is non-invasive and requires no radiation.
By taking these scans annually, Dr. Chin can use the technology to overlay new results with the previous ones. This allows her to closely monitor changes in your teeth and gums year over year and ensures timely intervention for issues such as tooth wear and gum recession.
OralDNA® Saliva Testing
When we understand your risk for developing periodontal disease, Dr. Chin can identify the factors that contribute to the disease and take pre-emptive steps. To accomplish this, we use OralDNA® salivary testing, a leading-edge diagnostic method that assesses your risk for and the presence of gum disease using saliva samples.
Taking a saliva sample for testing is easy; just swish the solution around in your mouth and spit into a collection tube. A specialized lab analyzes the sample, and the results allow for an earlier gum disease diagnosis to protect your long-term oral health.