Dental Technology
Barrie, Ontario - Canada
At Molson Park Dental Office, we pride ourselves in being a "patient-centered" practice. When you come to our office for any type of cosmetic, general or neuromuscular dentistry procedure, we have the dental technology in place to offer you different options for treatment. You make the final decision on how to proceed with your dental work and we support your decision using our state-of-the-art dental equipment.
Dental Observation Technology
Dr. Adam Chapnick uses two types of dental observation technology to help identify problem areas and keep you well informed about why certain procedures may be necessary.
Digital x-rays require less radiation than typical x-rays and allow Dr. Chapnick to look at the images immediately using color contrast, if needed. Digital x-rays are usually taken once a year to diagnose "hidden" dental issues, such as:
- Decay
- Infection
- Gum disease bone loss
- Oral cancer
- Impacted teeth
The intraoral camera gives you a "dentist’s-eye" view of the condition of your teeth on a television or computer monitor. This technology gives you a better understanding of why Dr. Chapnick and his team may be recommending certain treatment, especially if you are not experiencing any direct pain from the area.
TMJ Technology
Temporomandibular joint disorder, also called TMD or TMJ, is a complex condition that can go undiagnosed for years before treatment is sought. Dr. Chapnick practices neuromuscular dentistry by using specific technology to diagnose whether jaw misalignment is to blame for your painful symptoms.
The Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) unit is used to relax your jaw muscles by sending painless, gentle electrical pulses to your TMJ. Once your muscles have fully relaxed, Dr. Chapnick can determine how far your jaw has moved out of alignment and begin treatment to keep it in the proper location.
Our K7 Evaluation System is comprised of three types of technology to measure your jaw’s muscle movement (electromyography), sounds (sonography) and movement. All of these tests are vital to proper diagnosis of TMJ.
Laser Technology
Dr. Chapnick uses the BioLase soft tissue laser for certain dental procedures, such as frenectomies and cosmetic gum recontouring. The advantages of soft tissue lasers over traditional scalpel methods include:
- Enhanced precision
- Painless for most patients
- No vibration or heat
- Recovery is quicker
- Less bleeding, so less chance for infection
We also have access to a hard tissue laser for use on teeth for such procedures as filling removal or tooth preparation for certain cosmetic procedures. Hard tissue lasers can replace the dental drill in some cases.
Dental Bacteria Detection Technology
We provide patients a free BANA (benzoyl-DL-arginine-naphthylamide) test to detect bacteria and periodontal infections. This test allows us to catch gum disease in its earliest stages so a treatment plan can be administered immediately. If additional analysis is warranted, Dr. Chapnick will make a microscope slide of the bacteria in your mouth to send to a dental laboratory.
Oral cancer screenings are also a normal part of every dental hygiene visit. If you would like to learn more about the dental technology at Molson Park Dental Office, please contact us today for a consultation with our dental team and Dr. Adam Chapnick in Barrie.
