Over the last few decades, dentistry has come a long way. As technology in general has changed the way we go about our lives, technology has been changing the way we do dentistry and has improved the standards of care. At Schau Dental we endeavor to incorporate technology that will have real benefits to you. We don’t just jump into technology because it is the latest hype, or because it will allow us to bill more. It has to have a tangible benefit to our staff and patients. In the end, Schau Dental is a high tech office, without the inflated high tech prices often seen at comparable offices.
Read on to learn about some of the technology employed at Schau Dental to serve you better.
Digital X-rays
Our office employs the use of Direct Digital x-ray technology. Digital x-rays provide high quality images, ease of reproducibility for consultations and dealing with insurance companies, and increased accessibility to previous x-rays. Unlike Analog Digital x-rays, Direct Digital x-rays are taken using sensors that are connected directly to the computer network. This allows for faster, more consistent images and improved image quality over other forms of digital x-rays, and significant improvements over conventional x-rays. With Direct Digital X-rays you can say hello to less radiation, and goodbye to waiting.
We have a direct digital Panoramic x-ray unit that allows us to see more with less exposure to radiation. Using about the same amount of radiation required to do two conventional films, which would only capture a couple of teeth, our digital panoramic x-ray allows us to get a compete image of your jaw and all your teeth. The digital panoramic x-ray takes only seconds to perform and is on the computer screen ready for viewing in under 30 seconds. Have you seen your digital panoramic x-ray yet?
If you would like to learn more about the benefits of Digital X-rays, please visit our FAQ page. As not all digital x-rays are the same, I invite you to check out our Digital X-ray Comparison page.
Computerization
Each room is fully computerized allowing us to store virtually all your information digitally. The software we use is from The Bridge Network and allows for comprehensive visual charting, scheduling, and record keeping. So what does this mean for you?
Improved financial records: With all transactions electronically linked throughout the office there is less chance for communication errors to occur. These records also permit easy future reference for patient income tax purposes, communicating with insurance companies, “warranty” type issues, etc.
Improved claims submission: The majority of insurance companies accept electronic submission of claims. This allows for quicker submission of claims as well as an improved way of tracking claims once they have been submitted. With this process we often receive a real time response from the insurance provider informing us immediately what the benefit coverage is for the submitted claim. The detailed level of accounting the software provides also allows us the opportunity to catch payment errors from insurance companies and make sure you are receiving the benefits you deserve.
Improved dental history and treatment planning: With the use of photos, digital x-rays, and advanced computer charting, a comprehensive record of your oral health and treatment is maintained. Treatment plans are created and can be printed off along with educational materials so patients know exactly what their treatment will involve. This also aids in communication with specialists and insurance companies as records can be printed or electronically transferred to them without loss of the originals.
NB: As Dr. Schau is a bit of a “jack of all trades” he has personally set up the entire computer network, including all the wiring, backup configurations, etc. This means any glitches in the system can be corrected quickly to keep things up and running smoothly and efficiently.
Electric Handpieces
Dental drills used to all be air driven. With advances in technology, the current push is towards electric handpieces as the new standard. These drills operate at a lower sound frequency which helps reduce the high pitched noises air driven handpieces are famous for, which means added comfort when having work done. These drills also cut more efficiently and are showing to be less traumatic to the teeth.
At Schau Dental, all the handpieces used in a patient’s mouth are electric handpieces (we have one backup air driven one for polishing teeth but haven’t had to use it yet). In addition to being electric, all of them have fiber optic lights which aid in visibility while working in the mouth. All the drills also have built in water spray which helps clean the tooth while working on it as well as keeping it cool to minimize trauma. Unfortunately, due to the cost of equipping handpieces with fiber optic lights and water spray, many other offices choose to have only their primary handpieces equipped with these features.