Perspective
Practice of Colleen and Jason Olitsky, DDS
April 17, 2006 - 2 PM
written by Kerry Sullivan
The dentist chair has long endured a reputation cloaked in pain. But thanks to advanced technology in the field of dentistry, yearly checkups and even major procedures are becoming more tolerable. For example, Drs. Jason and Colleen Olitsky's dental practice uses equipment our parents' dentist could only dream about.
The most dreaded dental tool, of course, is the drill. Olitsky says new electric drills do not emit a high-pitched whine when operated. "The suction is louder than the drill now. Patients don't even hear the drill."
There is a 90-percent reduction in radiation exposure with digital x-ray machines. "The cool thing about a digital x-ray is the picture comes up immediately on the computer and you can modify the image and show the patient instantaneously." Wireless technology enables images to be sent instantly from the computer to both televisions in the room.
Instead of using a scalpel, the Odyssey 2.4G Diode Laser is utilized to perform gum lifts, or raise the gums to make teeth look longer. The use of the laser results in less post-operative pain.
The Cavitron Jet combines ultrasonic scaling technology and air polishing. Rather than using a metal scaling instrument to clean teeth, the Jet involves magnetic fields and water spray.
Today it is considered mandatory for dentists to use magnification glasses. "Before we just had safety glasses. You basically had your head in somebody's mouth," says Dr. Olitsky. "These glasses allow you to sit back and still see things clearly."
The DIAGNOdent Laser measures fluorescence within a tooth, giving the dentist a reading of the likelihood of a cavity/ The higher the number on a scale of zero to 99, the more likely a cavity is present.
A camera smaller than a toothbrush is used to take pictures inside the mouth. "We can show patients what they normally wouldn't be able to see from that perspective. They can see build-up on back of teeth cavities." A digital camera (on the back counter) fitted with a macrolens and ring light is used to take patients before and after photos.
The Wand is a computerized anesthetic delivery system. The device is said to eliminate the "fat face" feeling that often lass for hours after an appointment.
© copyright 2005-2007, Olitsky Smiles, all rights reserved
