Advanced Technology

Precision Dentistry

When you seek care at our office, you are assured that Dr. Clifford and staff utilize the latest in technology to enhance the quality and fit for your dental care.

Our practice uses high power microscopes to enhance the precision of patient care.

Dentistry is micro-surgery. Using microscope that is similar to the one an ophthalmologist uses enables us to create dental restorations with incredibly precise fit and finish. You just can’t fulfill that level of care with the naked eye.

In addition to allowing precise, close-up work, the microscope directs a beam of light directly on the teeth, minimizing glare for you.

Many dentists use air-driven “hand-pieces” (the dental term for “drills”). While acceptable for many procedures, these “whiney sounding” air-powered hand pieces all have a degree of non-concentricity; they do not rotate perfectly smoothly.

For the most precise aspects of restorative procedures, we use electric hand-pieces. This results in extraordinarily precise interfaces between your tooth and your new restoration (dental crown, tooth veneer, or tooth filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise.

Digital Imaging

Dr. Clifford chooses carefully which and when radiographs are taken. There are many guidelines that we follow. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes. Radiographs enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth, determine bone level, and analyze the health of your bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, as well as assess damage when trauma occurs.

Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs is extremely minimal. Dr. Clifford utilizes Digital Imaging Technologies within the office. With digital imaging, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs. Digital imaging can also help us retrieve valuable diagnostic information. We may be able to see cavities better.

Digital imaging allows us to store patient images, and enables us to quickly and easily transfer them to specialists or insurance companies.

Digital X-Rays:

Digital X-rays offer more precision since we view the image on a computer monitor, instead of holding up a 35mm film up to the light. Digital X-rays results in 1/6th the radiation exposure to you.

Laser Dentistry

For patients who do not look forward to needles, drilling, or numbness, Laser Dentistry may be the right choice.

Advanced Laser Dentistry with the Fotona LightWalker MAX

Our practice utilizes the Fotona LightWalker MAX, an advanced dental laser system designed to provide comfortable, precise treatment for a variety of tooth and soft-tissue procedures.

Laser dentistry is one of dentistry’s latest advances. The laser delivers energy in the form of light. Depending on the intended result, this energy travels at different wavelengths and is absorbed by a “target.” In dentistry, these targets can be enamel, decay, gum tissue, or whitening enhancers. Each one absorbs a different wavelength of light while reflecting others.

Laser dentistry can be used for both tooth and soft tissue-related procedures. Oftentimes, no local anesthesia is required. Unlike with the dental drill, laser dentistry produces no heat or vibration, making the procedure quite comfortable for most patients. For soft tissue (surgical) procedures, it can eliminate the need for suturing and may allow for much faster healing.

Lasers can also be used to diagnose cavities. They can find hidden decay in teeth in early stages, and in some cases, the decay can be reversed through hygiene treatment and may never need filling.

Areas of dental care that benefit from laser technology:

• Cavity diagnosis and removal

• Curing or hardening bonding materials

• Whitening teeth

• Periodontal care

• Pediatric procedures

• Aphthous ulcer treatment (canker sores)

• Frenectomy (tongue-tie release) without anesthesia or sutures

• Crown lengthening, gingivectomy, and other gum corrections

With the Fotona LightWalker MAX, our practice is able to offer advanced laser dentistry designed to provide precise, comfortable care for both children and adults.

Intraoral Camera

Many patients, especially younger patients, are very familiar with the latest technology and are comfortable with the high tech practice. Computers and TV screens are their primary method of information processing.

Dr. Clifford utilizes Intraoral Camera technology that helps enhance your understanding of your diagnosis. An Intraoral Camera is a very small camera – in some cases, just a few millimeters long. An Intraoral Camera allows our practice to view clear, precise images of your mouth, teeth and gums, in order for us to accurately make a diagnosis. With clear, defined, enlarged images, you see details that may be missed by standard mirror examinations. This can mean faster diagnosis with less chair-time for you!

Intraoral cameras also enable our practice to save your images in our office computer to provide a permanent record of treatments. These images can be printed for you, other specialists, and your lab or insurance companies.

Biological Dentistry

Biological Dentistry takes a whole-person approach to oral health, focusing on the connection between your teeth, gums, and overall well-being.

Our approach to biological dentistry emphasizes prevention, minimally invasive treatment, and preserving as much healthy natural tooth structure as possible. We consider not only the immediate dental concern, but also the health and function of your mouth as part of your overall wellness.

Biological dentistry may incorporate advanced technologies and conservative treatment techniques designed to provide comfortable, precise care while minimizing unnecessary intervention. By identifying potential concerns early and addressing them with a focus on prevention, we can help protect your natural teeth and support long-term oral health.

Our Biological Dentistry Approach May Include:

• Preventive and minimally invasive dental care
• Early detection and conservative treatment of tooth decay
• Preservation of healthy natural tooth structure
• Biocompatible dental materials when appropriate
• Comprehensive evaluation of gum and periodontal health
• Advanced laser technology for select dental procedures
• Personalized treatment plans based on each patient’s individual needs
• A focus on long-term oral health rather than treating problems only as they arise

Our goal is to provide thoughtful, conservative dental care that respects your natural oral structures while supporting your long-term health and comfort.