Think back to your earliest memories of the dentist? For children and young adults today, their memories as a child probably feel quite reminiscent of visits to the dentist today. But if you are in the older crowd, your first memories of the dentist are almost certainly a little different. There are all sorts of technological advancements that have taken place over the last several decades which have revolutionized dentistry. These changes have made great strides in effectiveness, safety, and comfort. Here are three ways that dental technology has changed treatments today for the better.
Laser Dentistry
The first way that dental technology has changed is via laser dentistry. Thanks to advancements in laser technology, not all dental procedures require the invasive drilling and scary metal instruments that we are all familiar with. While lasers cannot do the work of all dental treatments (at least for now) they can be useful in many cases. Most commonly, lasers are used for treatments like removing overgrown mouth or gum tissue, reshaping your gums, and even whitening teeth. If you need any of these procedures and think that laser dentistry might be right for you, talk to your dentist about your options and what they recommend for your personal situation.
Less Intrusive Braces
Another great way that dental technology has changed treatments is with less intrusive braces options for people of all ages. There was a time when fixing tooth alignment meant huge and intrusive headgear that is painful and heavy. Now there are several less intrusive options. Now you can put braces on the back of your teeth, so they are hidden from view. Braces on the back of the teeth can improve aesthetics. Talking to your dentist and orthodontist about your tooth alignment options can help you discover the best choice for you.
Better Diagnostics
The final way that dental technology has changed our treatments is by giving our doctors the tools for better diagnosis. Diagnostic tools like x-rays and other new diagnostic techniques give dentists today more knowledge to spot issues earlier and fix them faster. Better diagnostics can shorten the length of your treatment, and the severity of your treatment, and help you stay healthier. All dental treatment begins with diagnostics, so improvements in this area translate to improvements all around.
Dentistry, just like all other types of medicine, is a type of science that continually improves upon itself. With the technological advancements of the past, dentistry may never be the same again. With these three advancements in technology, dentistry is moving forward at the speed of light.
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