Technology

A New Smile in One Visit with CEREC®

Thanks to Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics, known by the acronym CEREC®, we are able to restore your damaged teeth to their natural strength without the waiting associated with traditional restorations. We use CEREC® to replace fillings and restore teeth that are decayed, weakened, or broken.

CEREC® crowns are created in our office in minutes, using a proprietary metal-free milling technique. This technology eliminates the need for multiple visits that a traditional crown would require.

The teeth are digitally scanned with a camera and the new dental crown is designed on a computer before being milled. It is then crystallized in an oven and permanently bonded to the tooth. The whole appointment takes less than 2 hours and does not require the use of temporary dental crowns.

Discover Why So Many Patients Rave about CEREC®

If you are a patient with a filling or crown that needs to be replaced, make your appointment and ask us about CEREC®. We will be happy to show you how the process works and answer any other questions you may have.

Reduce Radiation Exposure with Digital X-rays

Digital x-rays are another way that we protect your health when you visit our office. Instead of using a conventional film, we use a special sensor which puts the x-ray picture directly into the computer.

This allows us to reduce the amount of radiation by nearly 90%. Since the pictures are in the computer, we can enhance the images to better diagnose conditions–often before they become problems. This proves to be much more convenient for you because the x-rays can then be displayed on the computer right in front of you!

Benefits of Digital X-rays include:
  • Less exposure to radiation
  • Faster turnaround time
  • Shorter appointments
  • Involvement in co-diagnosis
  • Improved understanding of the treatment options
i-CAT 3D Scanning

Until recently, traditional dental x-rays were only able to provide limited information about the state of your mouth. Dentists relied on experience and knowledge to diagnose and develop treatment plans for each patient.

The i-CAT is a state-of-the-art Cone Beam CT Scanner that we use at SLO Smiles. The i-Cat produces a high-resolution 3-D image of the mouth that can be used for many diagnostic purposes. The images are especially useful to evaluate and plan dental implant cases to ensure safety and ideal results.

Get a Faster, More Accurate Diagnosis with an Intraoral Camera

The intraoral camera allows us to view your teeth and gums with more precise clarity. The camera helps us identify early any underlying dental issues or concerns so that we can treat them sooner and more accurately. A more accurate diagnosis allows us to develop a better treatment plan for each patient.

A faster, more accurate diagnosis means less chair time and fewer appointments for you! It also allows you to see everything we see and know everything we know about your unique needs!

Show and Tell

Some patients struggle to understand why they need complicated dental procedures when they aren’t experiencing any pain or see no visual evidence that the procedure is needed.

The Intraoral camera allows you to see the state of your mouth in real-time rather than being shown difficult-to-understand x-rays or listening to the explanation of the dentist. Instead, you can see the doctor’s diagnosis with your own eyes.

Intraoral cameras are roughly the same size as a pen and are fitted with a camera and light. The camera then transmits the images to a computer screen. You’ll be able to see right away a fractured tooth, abscess, or cavity.

Phase Contrast Microscope

Our bodies are hosts to countless bacteria, both beneficial and harmful. Gum disease is a complex cascade of events triggered by the presence of certain pathogenic bacteria.

There are several factors that determine the effect these bugs will have on our oral and overall health including age, habits, and illnesses. The phase contrast microscope is a cutting edge tool to aid in the prevention and elimination of gum disease by allowing the dentists at SLO Smiles to visualize and classify bacteria.

This allows a proactive approach to stop gum disease before it starts to damage tissue and bone. Our office goal is eliminate gum disease from our patients and the phase contrast microscope is a critical component.

Plasma Rich in Growth Factor

Plasma Rich in Growth Factor (or PRGF) is a type of plasma rich protein (PRP) that is derived by fractionating blood into its components. PRGF is used primarily in bone and soft tissue regeneration.

It is a technique that uses a small amount of the patient’s own blood to isolate crucial proteins that stimulate healing, foster new bone growth, and repair soft tissue in surgical sites.

Because PRGF is derived from the patient’s own blood and tissue, the process is very safe with little risk of disease transmission or rejection from the donor.

The Advantages of PRGF
  • It is safe. PRGF are derived from the patient’s own blood. As a result, disease transmission is not an issue.
  • It is convenient. PRGF is easily generated in our office and can be done while the patient is undergoing another procedure, such as placement of dental implants.
  • It helps with faster healing. By saturating the wound with PRGF, the patient will experience faster healing time and tissue regeneration.
  • It is cost effective. Because we are able to generate PRGF in office, the patient need not go through the expense of a harvesting procedure in a hospital or at a blood bank.
  • It is easy to use. PRGF is easy to handle and makes applying bone substitute materials and bone grafting products easier to manipulate.
Why You Should Be Screened with VELscope®

It’s estimated that 49,670 Americans will be diagnosed with cancer of the oral cavity and pharynx in 2017. During the same time period it is estimated that 9,700 Americans will die of oral cancer.

One of the VELscope®system’s most important tasks is to help identify areas that might, if not identified and treated, progress to oral cancer. The VELscope®system is designed to help our dentists recognize oral abnormalities found on the lips, mouth, and upper throat.

In just two minutes, with no rinses, stains or discomfort, a VELscope®examination allows our dentists to improve their assessment of your overall oral health.

Did You Know?
  • Oral cancer kills one person every hour in North America.
  • Oral cancer has 3 times as many victims as cervical cancer.
  • If you are over 40, smoke, and drink alcohol you are at an increased risk to develop oral cancer.
  • Nearly half of oral cancer patients are expected to die within 5 years because of a late diagnosis, however when detected early it is 80% to 90% survivable.
  • Unfortunately, only 35% of case are diagnosed in the early stages.
How it Works

The VELscope® uses a safe blue light and fluorescence technology to show differences between normal and abnormal tissues in the mouth. Looking through a special lens, dentists can detect changes several cell layers deep in the early stages that frequently can not be seen by the naked eye.

Why WaterLase® is Truly Cutting Edge

The WaterLase® iPlus Dental Laser is a versatile laser tool that allows our dentists to cut teeth, bone, and gum tissue more accurately and with less trauma than with traditional tools such as a drill or scalpel. The WaterLase® Drill can be used in procedures such as replacing fillings, cosmetic procedures, implant placements, and periodontal therapies.

How does it work?

The WaterLase® Dental Laser uses a combination of YSGG laser energy and a spray of water in a process called HydroPhotonics™. Because the laser uses water and light energy there is no friction like with a traditional drill.

Friction causes heat and ultimately pain. Because the WaterLase® does not cause such friction, there is less need for powerful anesthetics. In fact, many WaterLase®procedures can be done using no anesthetic at all!

WaterLase® patients usually experience little inflammation and discomfort post-treatment, if any. And doctors using the WaterLase®are able to work on teeth and gums with unprecedented accuracy.

Avoid Pain with The Wand® Anesthesia

Now you can avoid the pain associated with getting numbing shots before a procedure. The Single Tooth Anesthesia System® (STA) is a combination of CompuFlo® technology and The Wand® handpiece and it dramatically reduces the pain of injections in the sensitive areas of the mouth like the palate and front of the mouth.

This state-of-the-art system allows for a more predictable, comfortable injection of anesthetic and significantly reduces injection pain.

The Wand® Computerized Anesthesia

Doctors have long known that the main cause of discomfort or pain during an injection is the flow of the anesthetic into your tissues. The STA® System is a computer controlled anesthesia system that allows the doctor precise control over the location and amount of anesthesia that is administered.

Using the Wand® handpiece allows for complete accuracy that was previously unattainable. The Wand® is a pre-programmed anesthetic delivery device that controls the flow of anesthetic into your tissues.

By beginning the injection at an extremely slow rate and then gradually increasing the flow, pain is managed and patients experience little to no discomfort!

The Wand® ensures that each patient receives the optimal dose of anesthetic at the optimal flow rate so that each injection is comfortable every time. Patients are amazed how comfortable obtaining dental anesthesia is now using The Wand®!

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  • Tuesday7:00am - 5:00pm
  • Wednesday7:00am - 5:00pm
  • Thursday7:00am - 5:00pm
  • Friday7:00am - 2:00pm
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New patients are always welcome at SLO Smiles. Our friendly San Luis Obispo dental team looks forward to meeting you!