At R.L. Howell, D.D.S. & Associates, our offices are equipped with the latest in digital and laser technology to provide you and your family with the most effective and comfortable dental treatments available. Whether you benefit from the convenience of single-visit crowns, the detection of early-stage cavities, or the safety of digital X-rays, you will enjoy the exceptional care you receive from our dedicated team of dental professionals.
To learn about the possibilities available to you with the latest dental procedures, techniques, and technologies, contact R.L. Howell, D.D.S. & Associates today.
Air abrasion is the new drill-free, needle-free cavity repair method. During the air abrasion procedure, a stream of fine particles is applied to the decayed tooth area to gently remove decay in preparation for a filling. There is no vibration, noise, heat, or pressure — so the procedure is more comfortable and less anxiety producing than treatment with a traditional dental drill. Using the air abrasion method, we can treat numerous cavities during a single office visit. Air abrasion also allows us to treat decay conservatively, preserving more of the healthy tooth structure. By using this new alternative to traditional dental drills, we provide our patients with convenient, comfortable, and virtually pain-free cavity repair.
With the chairside computer system and dental lab by CEREC®, we are able to fabricate porcelain crowns, onlays, and inlays all within a single office visit. Infrared images of the patient's mouth are sent to a computer, where they are transformed into three-dimensional images on screen. Patients can view these images of their teeth while we fabricate their ceramic or porcelain restorations. Within about ten minutes, restorations are ready to be placed into the patient's mouth. With CEREC® 3D, we are able to reduce the number of visits needed for restorative dental work. For patients, this means fewer injections and less time out of their busy schedules.
Educating patients about the dental procedures they want or need is an important part of dental care. To help our patients get the most out of their dental experiences, we equip each treatment room with a computerized patient education system. Patients can watch educational videos complete with animations, still photography, and 3D models of teeth and restorations, all in high resolution. Patients not only learn detailed information about dental procedures, they also learn about dental disease and its treatment and prevention.
Compared to traditional X-ray technology, digital radiology enables us to X-ray our patients' mouths in less time and with less exposure to radiation. Digital X-rays actually reduce radiation exposure by up to 80 percent. And because film and processing chemicals are not involved in the process, there is no hazardous waste or by-products. Instead of film, patients bite down on digital sensors that transmit information to a computer, where images are processed. Within minutes, X-ray images are ready for viewing.
Dental lasers provide safe, minimally invasive solutions to dental problems. We use lasers to diagnose and treat dental disease in hard and soft oral tissues. Cavities, for example, can be detected in their earliest stages with laser diagnostics. Without lasers, detection is not possible until the cavities progress. Gums and teeth can be treated with lasers as well—without the need for anesthesia. Laser treatment is more precise and reduces bleeding, inflammation, and pain. With the use of laser technology, we are able to provide a comfortable dental experience for our patients.
Our offices are equipped with the ZOOM!® laser light that works in conjunction with the ZOOM!® tooth-whitening gel. With the ZOOM!® system, we are able to brighten and whiten patients' teeth by up to ten shades in just about an hour. After we have strategically applied the whitening gel to the patient's teeth, the ZOOM!® laser light activates the gel so that it penetrates stains and discolorations.
To learn more about the dental technology we employ or to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, contact R.L. Howell, D.D.S. & Associates today. At our dental offices, we always treat you like family.