PATIENT INFORMATION

Advanced Technology

Precision Dentistry

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

Laser Dentistry

Dr. Spivak utilizes the Kavo Diagnodent, a Laser Cavity Dectection System to diagnose cavities at their earliest stage. The earlier a cavity can be detected, the more conservative the restorative procedure to fix the problem

Below on the Left is the traditional explorer "pick" which cannot alway detect small early cavities in the dentin. Sometimes the opening in the enamel is so small, the explorer is ineffective or the enamel can begin to remineralize after the cavity has already reached the dentin. These cavites will go unnoticed until they are moderate or large in size and become sensitive to cold or sweets!

Below on the Right, the Diagnodent Laser red light can detect the earliest, smallest spot of decay in the dentin. It is Painless, the light rebounds against the tooth structure displaying a numerical number and humming sound on the machine. It works on the same principle of a ball bouncing off concrete vs. off grass or dirt. The laser can sense the hardness (good tooth) vs. softness (cavities bad tooth) to determine if the tooth needs to be fixed.

Our practice uses Telescopic Magnification Glasses to enhance the precision of patient care.

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 (crown, veneer, or filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise.

Digital Imagings (Low radiation Digital X-Rays)

Our practice utilizes the Kodak Dental Imaging System instead of old fashioned dental film.

Dr. Spivak 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.

We also have the patented Logicon Cavity Detecting System as part of the Kodak System in every operatory. This computerized system can anaylze the dental images via advanced state of the art technology to determine if there are cavities between teeth, cracks or other defects in the teeth and surrounding bone.

LOGICON Software

Diagnose More Caries with Confidence

Logicon Intraoral Radiography Software

Our patented LOGICON Caries Detector Software is the only FDA-approved caries detection tool. Originally developed by research scientists at Northrop, LOGICON Software serves as an electronic “second opinion,” helping you find and diagnose inter-proximal caries quickly, effectively and confidently.

Logicon Intraoral Radiography Software

LOGICON Software analyzes both tooth density and demineralization patterns to help you search for caries and offers you valuable probabilities of whether caries exists in the enamel or dentin. LOGICON Software also uses dramatic graphics and visual aids to help you communicate your diagnosis to patients in a way they can easily and quickly understand.

The Digital Images (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. The images can be inversted, rotated, and changed to a 3-D or density type analysis. Digital X-rays results in 1/6th the radiation exposure to you.

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

Intraoral Camera and Digital Photography

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. Spivak utilizes digital photography and 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!

Digital photography 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. Dr. Spivak has taken over 10,000 images since starting to use intra oral and digitial photography in 1995!