Dental Veneers as a Breakthrough in Modern Dental Technology Essay
In today’s fashion-conscious world, porcelain and composite veneers remain some of the most popular choices for people seeking to improve the esthetics of their teeth. Porcelain veneers have several advantages when compared to composite veneers including durability, resistance to staining, and amount of tooth structure removed during the procedure. Dental Veneers as a Breakthrough in Modern Dental Technology Essay.
First and foremost, the porcelain veneers are very durable. They are also very thin – usually between 0.5 – 0.7 millimeters – and brittle, although once bonded to a healthy tooth structure they can become quite strong. The bonding process increases durability and veneers made of porcelain can last for many years, oftentimes between 10-15 years depending on how well they are taken care of. Many people choose porcelain veneers for their resistance to staining; an increasingly important concern in our health-conscious world. Porcelain veneers can also create a very life-like and natural tooth appearance. The translucent nature of the porcelain allows the veneers to mimic the light handling characteristics of enamel, thus giving it a sense of depth not possible with other cosmetic bonding materials such as composite resin. Unlike other cosmetic dental bonding material, porcelain is a smooth and impervious ceramic that does not pick up permanent stain from things like cigarettes, coffee or other dark staining liquids. Finally, porcelain veneers are a conservative restorative procedure and remove only a small amount of tooth structure during the process. Minimal tooth preparation such as drilling is required resulting in a process that requires little or no anesthetic (Materdomini and Friedman 99-103; Christensen 1574-1576).
Although porcelain veneers remain quite common, they are many reasons why people choose a composite veneer over its porcelain counterpart. Unlike composite veneers, porcelain veneers are not made on-site and need to be created in a dental laboratory. Dental Veneers as a Breakthrough in Modern Dental Technology Essay. This means that porcelain veneers generally require at least two visits. Cost is also a factor with porcelain veneers being much more expensive than their composite counterpart.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER NOW
Picture this: You go in for your scheduled dental checkup and discover you have a cavity. But instead of a long process that involves drilling into your tooth, your dentist shoots a laser beam into your mouth, and then injects a paste. Voila! Your tooth is fixed.
Seem like a science fiction movie about dentists? This scenario is actually not too far-fetched. The future of dental technology is bringing revolutionary new oral health techniques that will turn dental appointments into quick and painless visits. Here are a few of the latest dental technologies that are expected to change the world of dental medicine. Dental Veneers as a Breakthrough in Modern Dental Technology Essay.
Dental lasers are not a new technology. In fact, using lasers in dentistry has been around since the early 90’s. With new developments and easier production in recent years, these lasers are now more prevalent in the field of dentistry. Some dental schools even offer courses in laser dentistry, paving the way for the use of lasers in the future of dentistry.
Less time and pain! These modern lasers are virtually pain-free, removing the need for numbing injections or pastes. They also can be quicker than the standard drills currently used in dentistry.
Once decay sets in, a tooth has been compromised structurally. Although you can remove decayed tissue, the dentist has to fill it with either a composite or amalgam substance to prevent bacteria from continuously eroding the tooth structure. However, this process may be a thing of the past. Dentists have created a new process that uses electrical currents to re-mineralize decaying tooth areas. Though still a few years away from being widely available, this exciting discovery could change the face of dental medicine altogether.
No more fillings. If successful, this technology could eradicate the need for fillings altogether, allowing the decaying tooth structure to organically heal itself. Dental Veneers as a Breakthrough in Modern Dental Technology Essay.
Approved by the FDA, ultraviolet handheld devices can now be used by dentists to detect oral cancer in its earliest stages. This system uses fluorescent light to show any irregular cells in the mouth that may be signs of oral cancer. The VELscope system is non-invasive and only takes about two minutes to work, which means it can be used during your routine dental exams.
Traditionally, oral cancer had a mortality rate of about 50% due to it being a cancer that was typically not detected until it was already in an advanced stage. Using this new UV device, these cancers can be caught earlier on, saving lives and preventing them from spreading.
Instead of x-rays using focused radiation in film production, dentists are now more commonly using digital x-rays. These digital systems provide instantaneous imaging for the doctors, as well as producing 90% less radiation than the standard film method.
Another digital system being used in dentistry is the intraoral digital camera. This camera has a built-in light source and is small enough to be comfortably used on patients. With zooming capabilities and snapshot features, the intraoral digital camera can get a close look at every tooth, and can even store or print images for your file. Best of all, these cameras provide dentists and hygienists with one of the best tools for diagnosing problems in the mouth. Dental Veneers as a Breakthrough in Modern Dental Technology Essay.
ORDER A PLAGIARISM-FREE PAPER NOW
Digital technology is emerging as a game-changer in dentistry. Primarily, it makes it easier for your dentist to detect cavities and gum disease. It also cuts down on the use of radiation in dentistry. Rusnak Family Dentistry has been on the cutting age of embracing digital dentistry and uses intraoral cameras and digital x-rays on all patients.
3-D printing has provided many breakthroughs for the medical community, but the benefits seen in dentistry will be immeasurable. One example of these benefits is the process of dental crowns. The current process involves taking a cast, making a temporary crown, and sending off the cast to a lab for the production of the permanent crown. In the future 3-D printing will expedite this process.
By using 3-D printing technology, dentists may be able to streamline the dental crown process. This would hopefully mean that crowns could be manufactured more quickly and perhaps less expensively.
So will this science fiction story become a reality? Within the next few years, the implementation of even a few of the technologies listed above would completely alter the field of dentistry. The future of dental technology will bring many exciting changes for dentists and oral surgeons, but for patients the upsides are simple: Less time, money, and discomfort. Constantly evolving technologies are changing the face of dentistry, making the dread of an uncomfortable dentist appointment a thing of the past. Dental Veneers as a Breakthrough in Modern Dental Technology Essay.