Technology

CBCT stands for Cone Beam Computed Tomography and is a scanning technique that takes a wide-angle cross-sectional x-ray to make 3-D reconstructions of your facial anatomy, including your teeth, jaw, and other oral structures essential to specific dental procedures. For example, this type of imaging is considered the industry standard for dental implant planning.

This technology works with a scanning unit that moves all the way around your head, projecting the x-ray in a conical shape that captures a greater cross-section of your face than other technologies. Using this tool, we can assemble more precise maps of your mouth and face with less radiation exposure.

How We Use CBCT Technology at Our Pacifica Dentists' Office

Dr. Acosta's team will use cond-beam technology for better diagnosis and treatment in the following instances:

• The precise location of bony structures in your mouth
• Allows 3-D views for ideal implant orientation
• Determines if you need a bone graft or sinus lift.
• Confirms the length and scale of your potential implant
• Transmits images to dental implant planning software

If you're interested in dental implants, CBCT scanning technology improves the success of every treatment phase.

Dental radiographs have been essential tools for the diagnosis of tooth decay, dental cavities, and even gum disease for decades. However, the x-ray technology of the past could be cumbersome and invasive, exposing patients to moderate radiation levels for somewhat flat and lower-quality images. Digital x-rays go a long way toward minimizing the problematic side effects of conventional x-rays.

At Pacific Coast Dental, our team of professionals uses digital dental x-rays because of how they benefit patients of all ages. For example, digital x-rays

• Utilize significantly less radiation.
• Are filmless, so they don't have to be developed and eliminate dangerous film developer chemicals.
• Offer better accuracy for improved diagnosis.
• Save time and space as they are stored digitally, making them infinitely sharable as well.

An intraoral (IO) camera empowers you with a first-hand view of what your dentist sees as they examine your teeth and gums. Rather than the vague definitions you may see in a conventional dental x-ray, an IO camera takes full-color, high-resolution images inside your mouth. We then transmit these images in real-time to a chair-side screen which you view along with our dentist.

This technology offers unmatched educational opportunities for your oral health care. Embedded in a convenient wand, we can use this small camera without exposing you to radiation, capturing images as we go. We can review them on the spot or record images that we may go over later.

Our IO camera is especially essential when diagnosing periodontal disease. We find it a practical demonstration when we show patients the damaged parts of their gums and contrast them with how healthy gums and teeth appear. Seeing is believing, and intraoral cameras give you the view you may need to grasp your oral health conditions fully.

The iTero Intraoral Scanner is a device that digitally captures your mouth, gum, and teeth. Rather than creating physical images, a scanner records the relationships between all oral structures and then reconstructs them within a computer program to create a precise rendering in all three dimensions. It's easy to use, comfortable and non-invasive. The scanning portion comes in a hand-held wand which a team member places in your mouth, manipulating it to scan your entire mouth. We use this tool to make digital impressions for the hyper-accurate planning needs of clear aligners like Invisalign.

The Advantages of Digital Impression Technology

We prefer to create digital impressions with this next technology because its head and shoulders above the traditional means of taking orthodontic impressions. Past impressions used semi-solid material called alginate mixed with elastomers to create a model of your teeth. This method is inferior to digital impression because:

• Alginate is messy and tastes terrible
• Impression trays are difficult to manipulate
• They don't record color information like digital impressions
• Accuracy is highly variable and unreliable

Intraoral scanning technology, like that offered by iTero, eliminates all of these disadvantages, instead creating a complete impression of your mouth that we may easily view, manipulate and share.

If the advances in smartphone technology have taught us anything, it's that video entertainment is a welcome distraction in many situations where we are otherwise passive participants. Whether you're waiting in line, riding public transit, or just hanging out, our access to numerous streaming services can make any experience more tolerable. This is why our Pacific Coast Dental team is proud to offer entertainment systems in all our treatment rooms and waiting areas.

So at your next visit to our Pacifica dental clinic, you can kick back with a cozy pillow and a warm blanket, choosing from programming provided by Netflix, Hulu, and cable tv. This way, you can catch up on your favorite shows or stay informed via cable news during your treatments. We also offer Pandora if you prefer music to video.

Either way, we encourage you to relax and take advantage of the numerous options available to you. And during our new upcoming office remodel, we plan to add more options to make your dental experience the best it can be.

Hesitation about their visits to their dentist is one of the most common forms of anxiety people experience today. At Pacific Coast Dental, we understand how past negative experiences may rear their ugly heads even if those traumatic events happened years or even decades ago. Because dental anxiety doesn't have an expiration date, our caring staff works hard to create a comfortable and calm environment in which you can seek care. We offer entertainment screens in our treatment rooms to provide a welcome distraction during some procedures.

However, for our patients who experience more pronounced apprehension, we never want dental anxiety to be a barrier to care. Most dental issues start small but can grow into significant problems if you avoid treatment. One option we provide for our patients more impacted by dental distress is oral conscious sedation.

First, we consider your medical history to ensure this is a safe and effective option for you. Then, we will supply medication that you take orally before treatments. This sedative goes into effect quickly, and though you are awake during the procedure, your awareness will be blunted to minimize your experience of stress. Some patients may not even remember details of their treatments afterward, which lessens the chance of traumatic images and memories surfacing during future visits.

One of our qualified staff will monitor you throughout your sedation experience to provide safety and oversight until your visit is over. Our goal is to provide you with needed care in a warm and comfortable atmosphere, using all tools at our disposal to help you achieve a healthy smile.