Our Dental Technology

Kent Dentist Offering Exceptional Care in a Comfortable Setting

Here at Meridian Valley Dental Center in Kent, we strongly encourage you to enjoy how effective our modern dentistry can be while putting state-of-the-art dental technologies available in the hands of caring, experienced professionals.

Please contact our Kent dentist office today to learn more about our dental technology.

Panoramic X-Rays & Cephalometric Machines

A cephalometric X-ray (also referred to as a ceph) is a tool commonly used by orthodontists in treatment planning in order to take a complete radiographic image of the side of the face and provide a view of the patient's airways.

It provides the measurements and relationships between the teeth, jaws and head while enabling orthodontists to assess growth and development. Unlike with standard x-rays a cephalometric x-ray requires no film or plates and it allows the orthodontist to see the nasal and sinus passageways. Most dental offices have a cephalometric x-ray machine that is accessible.

Cephalometric x-rays are generally taken with a panoramic x-ray machine with a cephalometric film container attached to a mechanical arm.

Generally, two cephalometric pictures are taken; one before orthodontic treatment and then one after. Although in some cases the pictures are taken while the procedure is being implemented. The picture is taken of the patient's profile and takes about ten seconds to capture the picture. An ionizing radiation is placed on the film to supply a complete picture of the oral structure.

The pictures can develop in approximately 5 minutes. Once fully developed, tracing paper is used to give your orthodontist an idea of your growth patterns and interpret how future orthodontic treatments will affect your dental structure.

Rotary Endodontics

Rotary endodontics employs electrically-powered instruments to perform the root canal treatment rather than traditional stainless-steel manual files. The electric hand tool is equipped with a tip constructed out of nickel titanium – a material that is five times more flexible than stainless steel.

Due to the flexibility and unique movement of the nickel-titanium instrument, it can be inserted deeply into a curved root canal without stretching or damaging the passageway. This makes for a quick and reliable procedure.

Digital X-Rays

As part of our commitment to providing our patients with the safest, most effective dental options available, our dentist in Kent, Dr. Beack uses digital radiology in diagnostic exams.

Digital x-rays are safer, faster, more accurate, and far more biologically conscientious than their traditional counterparts. The x-rays require no film, therefore reducing exposure to radiation by 80 percent and eliminating hazardous waste.

Patients simply close their mouths on digital sensors while our computers process the images within seconds.

Intraoral Cameras

Intraoral cameras allow our Kent dentist and staff to transmit crystal-clear images of the inside of your mouth to a monitor, allowing for easier and more accurate diagnosis of potential oral health problems.

Using special software, we are able to enlarge these images, freeze them, or view them in real time.

This technology aids our dentist in Kent in explaining their diagnoses to patients during consultations. It also allows us to create accurate documentation of a patient’s dental condition and obtain a quicker response from his or her insurer, who will have clear visual evidence to confirm the results of our diagnostic tests.

Medit 3D Digital Scanner

Traditionally, dental impressions are messy, uncomfortable and long procedures where we place a tray full of “goop” in your mouth to make a mould of your teeth. This then gets sent to the lab where they produce a stone model of your teeth that can be used as a physical record or to be used by the lab to complete their work. Now, with our Medit 3D digital scanner, we are able to scan the teeth to create a 3D digital image. This digital “impression” is then emailed to the lab for them to do their work “virtually”.

The scanner can do much more than just replace analog impression-taking. The 3D digital scanner software will enable us to illustrate, evaluate and monitor your oral health ongoing.

Flexibility

An open system for integrated CAD/CAM workflow allows for the export of STL files for easy file transfer and thus optimized collaboration

Impressive Speed

Intelligent scan-detecting algorithm with two high-speed cameras for quick and efficient intraoral scanning

Powderless

No need for powder in most regular cases, allowing for a seamless scanning process and increased patient comfort