Advanced Technology

When you seek care at Monarch Dentistry of Gold Hill, you are assured that Dr. Mercado and her staff utilize the latest in technology to enhance the quality and fit for your dental care.

We invite you to visit our practice. Call us for a tour at Fort Mill Office Phone Number 803-547-7779.

---

Precision Dentistry

Dentistry is micro-surgery. Dr. Mercado uses modern dental tools for the best possible results.

• Our practice uses loupes with high-power magnification to enhance the precision of our care. Using loupes that are similar to the ones an ophthalmologist uses enables us to create dental restorations with incredibly precise fit and finish. You just can’t fulfill that level of care with the naked eye.
• In addition to allowing precise, close-up work, the loupes direct a beam of light directly on the teeth, minimizing glare for you.

• Many dentists use air-driven “hand-pieces” (the dental term for “drills”). While acceptable for many procedures, these “whiney sounding” air-powered hand pieces all have a degree of non-concentricity; they do not rotate perfectly smoothly.

  For the most precise aspects of restorative procedures, we use electric hand-pieces. This results in extraordinarily precise interfaces between your tooth and your new restoration (crown, veneer, or filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise.

Digital Imaging

Dr. Mercado chooses carefully which and when radiographs are taken. There are many guidelines that we follow. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes. They enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth, determine bone level, and analyze the health of your bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, as well as assess damage when trauma occurs.

Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs is extremely minimal. Dr. Mercado utilizes Digital Imaging Technologies within the office. With digital imaging, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs. Digital imaging can also help us retrieve valuable diagnostic information. We may be able to see cavities better.

Digital imaging allows us to store patient images and enables us to quickly and easily transfer them to specialists or insurance companies.

Digital X-Rays:

3-D Imaging (Cone Beam Computed Tomography)

This type of CT scanner uses a special type of technology to generate three-dimensional (3-D) images of dental structures, soft tissues, nerve paths, and bone in the cranial-facial region in a single scan. Images obtained with cone beam CT allow for more precise treatment planning, especially in implant placement, diagnosis of the cause of failing or symptomatic tooth such as in root canal treated tooth or crack tooth syndrome, or identifying possible tumors and other diseases that do not appear on traditional x-rays. Although CBCT has proven to be an invaluable diagnostic tool, it has yet to be the standard of care at this time, hence only a handful of dental practices have it. We selected the Planmeca ProMax, as it has one of, if not the, lowest Ultra Low Dose on the market.

Planmeca ProMax 3D offers a unique Planmeca Ultra-Low Dose imaging protocol that achieves an average of 77% reduction in radiation dose, when compared with standard imaging protocols, without compromising image quality and lower dose than standard 2D panoramic imaging. This intelligent protocol can be used for the evaluation of implant-to-endodontic and anatomical features.

A special feature is the extra-oral bite-wings are ideal for periodontics, elderly and child patients, claustrophobic patients, patients with strong gag flex, and patients in pain. Extra-oral bite-wings enhance clinical efficiency and take less time and effort than conventional intra-oral bite-wings.

For more information about Planmeca 3D Imaging features and doses, please call our office at Fort Mill Office Phone Number 803-547-7779 or download to an informational booklet.

Intraoral Digital X-rays

Digital X-rays offer more precision since we view the image on a computer monitor, instead of holding up a 35mm film to the light. Digital X-rays result in 1/6th of the radiation exposure to you. The intraoral images zoom in on the teeth to detect cavities in between teeth and allow us to evaluate the tip of the root.

Laser Dentistry

For patients who do not look forward to needles, drilling, or numbness, Laser Dentistry may be the right choice.

Laser dentistry is one of dentistry’s latest advances. The laser delivers energy in the form of light. Depending on the intended result, this energy travels at different wavelengths and is absorbed by a “target.” In dentistry, these targets can be enamel, decay, gum tissue, or whitening enhancers. Each one absorbs a different wavelength of light while reflecting others. Laser dentistry can be used for both tooth and soft tissue-related procedures. Oftentimes no local anesthesia is required. Unlike the dental drill, with laser dentistry there is no heat or vibration, making the procedure quite comfortable for most patients. For soft tissue (surgical) procedures it eliminates the need for suturing and healing is much faster.

Lasers can be used to diagnose cavities. They can find hidden decay in teeth in the early stages, and in some cases, the decay can be reversed through hygiene and fluoride treatment and may never need filling.

Areas of dental care that benefit from laser technology:

• Cavity diagnosis and removal
• Curing, or hardening, bonding materials
• Whitening teeth
• Periodontal, or gum-related, care
• Pediatric procedures
• Apthous Ulcer treatment (canker sore)
• Frenectomy (tongue-tie release) without anesthesia or sutures
• Root canals and apicoectomies
• Crown lengthening, gingivectomy and other gum corrections

Dental lasers have been shown to be safe and effective for treating both children and adults.

Intraoral Camera

Many patients, especially younger patients, are very familiar with the latest technology and are comfortable with the high-tech practice. Computers and TV screens are their primary method of information processing.

Dr. Mercado utilizes Intraoral Camera Technology to enhance your understanding of your diagnosis. An Intraoral Camera is a very small camera — in some cases, just a few millimeters long. An intraoral camera allows our practice to view clear, precise images of your mouth, teeth, and gums, allowing us to make an accurate diagnosis. With clear, defined, enlarged images, you see details that may be missed by standard mirror examinations.

Intraoral cameras also enable our practice to save your images in our office computer to provide a permanent record of treatments. These images can be printed for you, other specialists, and your lab.

For faster direct reimbursement of payment to you from your insurance, we electronically transmit these digital x-rays and intraoral camera images to your dental insurance to expedite the processing of your claims.