Dental Technology

It’s important to know that your doctor is keeping up with the constant and rapid advancements in modern dental technology. Digital X-rays are just one more advantage you will have at your disposal when you visit our office. Instead of using conventional film, we use digital smile technology, which allows us to reduce the amount of harmful radiation by nearly 90%. This digital smile technology also allows us to see a clearer picture of your mouth, and to identify many dental problems left unseen by standard X-rays.

Let’s face it, very few of us have perfect teeth, free of any decay or fillings. You can probably see a filling or two in your own mouth, which do just that: “fill” a cavity in decayed tooth structure. In many cases, those fillings are made of metal material and can go bad, weaken the tooth, or get additional decay under or around it. In fact, 1.2 billion of these metal fillings will need to be replaced in the next 10 years. CEREC is a method used by thousands of dentists worldwide since 1987 not only to replace these fillings, but also to restore any tooth that is decayed, weakened, broken, etc. to its natural strength and beauty. Better yet, it’s done with all-ceramic materials that are tooth-colored in a single appointment!

Our in-office CEREC® technology (short for “Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics” or “Ceramic Reconstruction”) allows our dentist, Dr. Harry Suekert, the ability to offer flexibility and versatility to our patients. CEREC allows treatment options that preserve original tooth structure, provide desired esthetics, and offer a less expensive result quickly. To date, CEREC remains the most advanced in-house tool, offering a precise way to restore the look and function of your smile. With outsourced crowns, several weeks are often required to receive the final restoration. With the CEREC process, instead of having to wait for a crown and second appointment, now you can have the crown fabricated in-house by us and placed immediately.

Here is what to expect for the treatment process for CEREC crowns in Chattanooga, TN:

• A digital scan to calculate the tooth’s dimensions
• No messy, uncomfortable impression molds
• Esthetic, accurate and functional results
• A secure crown placed over your affected tooth

In order to place an implant that will be most successful, it may be necessary to modify the jawbone to create the most ideal site to receive the implant. Piezosurgery is a system for cutting bone without damaging soft tissue using ultrasonic micro-vibrations. Developed for use in oral surgery, implantology and periodontics, this innovative technology allows our doctor to perform procedures that were not previously possible. Traditional methods of bone-cutting (i.e., drills and burs) can result in some tissue and bone loss, no matter how careful and precise the doctor may be. Piezosurgery eliminates this risk. Instead of drilling, Piezosurgery uses ultrasonic vibrations produced by a special surgical instrument to achieve unparalleled precision and patient comfort.
The doctor is able to perform procedures such as extraction, crown lengthening, periodontal therapy, and implant site preparation with increased accuracy and minimal discomfort. Patients are seeing amazing results with faster healing time, less swelling and less post-operative pain.

An intraoral camera allows our practice to view clear, precise images of your teeth and gums. These images allow us to make a more accurate diagnosis and develop a better treatment plan for each patient. A faster, more precise diagnosis means less time in the chair for our patients! Many patients struggle to understand why they need complicated dental procedures when they aren’t experiencing any pain or see no visual evidence that the procedure is needed. Intraoral cameras allow patients to see the state of their mouths in real-time rather than being shown difficult-to-understand X-rays or listening to a technical explanation.

Intraoral cameras are roughly the same size as a pen and are fitted with a camera and light. The camera then transmits the images to a computer screen or television monitor. You’ll be able to see such things as a fractured tooth, abscess, or cavity right away.

The Waterlase Dental Laser is a versatile laser tool that allows Dr. Suekert to cut teeth, bone and gum tissue more accurately and with less trauma than with traditional tools such as a drill or scalpel. The Waterlase can be used in procedures such as replacing fillings, cosmetic procedures, dental implant placement and periodontal treatments. This procedure uses a combination of YSGG laser energy and a spray of water in a process called HydroPhotonics™. Dr. Suekert can work on your teeth and gums with unprecedented accuracy allowing the laser to precisely remove decay without affecting the surrounding teeth and gums. Waterlase patients usually experience little inflammation and discomfort post-treatment, if any!

Tekscan, or T-Scan, is a valuable tool that aids in diagnosing problems with a person’s bite. The T-Scan system can show what is and what is not functioning properly when a person bites down. When a bite is unstable, it can cause pain, broken restorations, gum disease, tooth loss, headaches and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorder. The T-Scan device includes an ultra-thin sensor that a patient bites down on. The computer then analyzes and displays the data. Because the sensor technology is so advanced, the T-Scan can detect both biting time and force. This allows our dentist to correct any bite issues without the guesswork previously needed, and to reduce the number of office visits you will need to have your bite (also known as your occlusion) corrected.

Do you fear going to the dentist because needles scare you? Forget the needle! At our office in Chattanooga, TN, we offer needle-free pain relief for many of our dental procedures! Oraqix is a topical anesthetic that is administered below the gum line. This anesthetic is effective and efficient for many of our dental procedures and offers our patients a needle-free alternative to traditional anesthetics. Oraqix® gel, which is site-specific and allows the doctor to selectively numb specific areas of the mouth, is applied using a blunt-tipped applicator. After waiting 30 seconds, the pockets around the teeth are filled with Oraqix. After waiting for an additional 30 seconds, treatment can begin.

Control™ SyringeComfort Control Syringe is a revolutionary, pain-free alternative to traditional anesthetic needles and syringes. This state-of-the-art syringe allows for a more predictable, comfortable injection of anesthetic in sensitive areas such as the palate or front of the mouth. The Comfort Control Syringe is a pre-programmed anesthetic delivery device that controls the flow of anesthetic into your tissues. By beginning the injection at an extremely slow rate and then gradually increasing the flow, pain is managed and our patients experience little to no discomfort! Comfort Control Syringe ensures that each patient receives the optimal dose of anesthetic at the optimal flow rate so that each injection is comfortable every time.

Spots on teeth can result from a number of causes, including accident, trauma, developmental abnormalities, traditional braces, tooth decay, medications, smoking, and too much fluoride in your water. Removing these stains can be difficult, and teeth whitening or bleaching may not be effective. Microabrasion is a quick and painless solution for removing yellow, white or brown spots, stains, and discolorations on the teeth. This procedure uses hydrochloric acid and pumice to gently remove thin layers of tooth enamel, removing the stains. This process may be performed repeatedly until the desired results are achieved. This permanent solution usually takes only about an hour, during which only micro layers of enamel are removed, so the procedure is very safe.