Do you ever feel anxious or fearful when you visit the dentist? You're not alone! Millions of Americans feel this way, but the good news is that modern dentistry is doing several things to help patients feel more at ease in the dental chair.
Why Advanced Dental Technology Matters to Your Comfort
When you struggle with fear, anxiety, or dental phobia, your body actually perceives the dental chair or hand tools as a threat. This activates your amygdala (the fight-or-flight system in your brain) to sound the alarm. This causes your body to release adrenaline and cortisol as a stress response, which speeds up your heart rate, quickens your breathing, tightens your muscles, and creates that familiar pit you feel in your stomach when you visit the dentist. This is an actual physical condition for many patients.
State-of-the-art technology allows Dr. Wareham to make many dental procedures more comfortable and efficient for his patients, which helps to reduce dental anxiety in Lithia in many cases. Here are some of the advanced technologies you can expect to find at Cherry Blossom Family Dentistry.
Digital X-Rays: Faster Imaging, Less Radiation
Instead of the traditional film x-rays we used in the past, today we use digital x-rays that use sensors to capture the images and transfer them immediately to the television screens in our treatment rooms. That way, Dr. Wareham can diagnose any concerns he sees in real time, rather than waiting for an x-ray to be developed. Digital x-rays also offer less exposure to radiation than traditional x-rays, so patients can have peace of mind that their day spent outside in the sun exposes them to more radiation than a dental x-ray.
Panoramic X-Rays: Planning Ahead with Confidence
A panoramic x-ray provides a two-dimensional view of your entire mouth with one image. Dr. Wareham can see a complete picture of your jawbone structure, teeth, and jaw joints (TMJ). This image is helpful in planning procedures like root canal treatment or surgical extractions, such as wisdom teeth.
We also recommend taking a baseline panoramic x-ray to monitor your dental health every five years.
3-D Dental Imaging: A More Complete View
Advanced 3-D dental imaging gives Dr. Wareham a complete view of your jaw joints (TMJ), bones, facial structure, and teeth. This allows him to diagnose and pre-plan complex treatment procedures, such as dental implant placement or implant dentures. When he can plan treatment procedures in advance, it helps ensure our patients enjoy the best results and most positive outcomes.
Intraoral Camera: Seeing What Your Dentist Sees
The intraoral camera is a slim, pen-sized device that allows you to see exactly what your dentist sees in your mouth. It captures full-color pictures of your teeth and soft tissues that you can view on the television screens in our treatment rooms. Seeing what's happening in your mouth makes it easier to understand your treatment needs and why Dr. Wareham recommends certain procedures. This transparency also helps to reduce dental anxiety.
Televisions in Treatment Rooms: A Small Comfort That Matters
The television screens in our treatment rooms are integral to diagnosing and explaining treatment procedures for our patients. They can also help reduce patient anxiety, as you can watch your favorite show or movie as a distraction during treatment.
Our Philosophy: Technology in Service of Conservative Care
At Cherry Blossom Family Dentistry, Dr. Wareham takes a conservative approach to dental care, and state-of-the-art technology helps him do so. He aims to offer the least invasive approach for treatment procedures, and the technology in our dental office helps him achieve excellent outcomes for Lithia smiles.
Contact your trusted dentist in Lithia, FL, at (813) 438-5925 to schedule your next dental appointment, or you can request a visit online.
