Technology plays a significant role in providing quality dentistry. At Northland Dental, we invest in equipment that enhances your experience by making your appointments more comfortable, informative, and productive. We have recently renovated our dental office and are committed to staying current with new technology to bring you the best that dentistry offers.
Please take a few minutes to read about the technology we currently offer and how it benefits you, then call us to schedule an appointment!
Digital X-Rays
Digital dental x-rays are an invaluable tool that dentists use to diagnose conditions like cavities and gum disease. An x-ray gives us the complete picture of your oral health because it shows us areas of your teeth that we wouldn't otherwise see.
At Northland Dental, we use digital x-rays because they emit about 80 percent less radiation than traditional film x-rays and also produce highly detailed images that we share with you on your chairside monitor. That way, if you have a problem like a cavity, Dr. Atchison can point it out on the x-ray so you can see it clearly, understand how it's impacting your oral health, and why treating it is in your best interest.
We save all your x-rays to your patient record, so they are always easily accessible as needed for future reference or to share with specialists or insurance companies.
Intraoral Cameras
At Northland Dental, we know that it is important for our patients to feel empowered to make confident decisions about their oral health. Intraoral cameras are a technology that we use to keep you informed and help you understand what's happening with your oral health.
During your dental exam, Dr. Atchison uses this small handheld digital camera to take real-time images of your mouth, and you'll see them displayed on your chairside monitor. You get a close-up view of your teeth, and the dentist explains what you're looking at as he continues your examination. If he notices a problem like a cavity or broken filling, he'll explain why it's a problem and how treating it will benefit your long-term oral health.
Visualizing a problem for yourself is much more meaningful than being told what it is and gives you the information you need to make confident decisions about your treatment. We also save still images from your exam and save them to your patient history to refer to as needed or to share with insurance companies or specialists.
Nitrous Oxide
If you would like a more relaxing and comfortable experience at the dental office, nitrous oxide can be very beneficial. The effects of nitrous oxide or laughing gas are very soothing, so you can have a stress-free appointment whether you're getting a tooth filled or having a dental cleaning. You will remain conscious, but the sights and sounds around you will feel very far away, and you may even doze off for a few minutes.
As a gas, the effects of nitrous come on quickly when inhaled through a small breathing mask. The effects also dissipate within minutes after we stop the flow of nitrous and replace it with pure oxygen. Sit back and breathe normally while any lingering drowsiness fades away, and in minutes, you'll be able to leave our dental office and drive yourself home safely.