Dentist Philadelphia, PA

Laser Cavity Detector
Air Abrasion Unit
Loupes
Computerized Injections
Dental Unit Water Safety
Intra Oral Camera

Laser Cavity Detector
Dental cavities are often very sneaky, especially when they occur on the deeply ridged biting surfaces of the back teeth. Diagnosing these cavities can be challenging because the disease process can start through microscopic defects in the hard surface enamel, and then readily spread into the softer tooth structure beneath the surface. Meanwhile, the external surface of the tooth still appears to be healthy. X-rays and probing with a dental explorer are simply unreliable in detecting sub-surface decay, particularly when the cavity is in its early stages.

In our office, we employ the very latest diagnostic tool, a laser fluorescence cavity detector. This device is a pen-like probe that glides over the tooth structure and emits a thin stream of laser light. The electronic box connected to the probe measures the depth of penetration of the laser beam and a number scale and an alarm signals when there are signs of hidden decay. In this manner, we are able to detect decay in the very beginning stages. What's more, this technology is completely safe and pain-free.

What does this mean to you, the patient? Well first of all, it means that your dental cavities can be discovered when they are very small. We can excavate this minimal decay, usually with air abrasion instead of the drill, and usually without the need for anesthetic (novacaine). The resultant filling is much smaller and preserves more of your good tooth structure. So you will save tooth structure with no discomfort, you will save time, and you will save money.

Air Abrasion Unit
When new dental cavities are discovered early, as with laser diagnostics, they can often be filled without the use of the dental drill and without the use of anesthetic(novacaine). We can accomplish this with an air abrasion unit. Think of it as a high-tech sand blaster. The wand of the air abrasion unit directs a stream of ultra-fine aluminum oxide particles at the spot of decay. This particle stream painlessly dissolves the decay and readies the tooth for restoration.




Loupes
Dr. Gamba wears surgical telescopes with a halogen headlamp for every operative procedure. The scopes greatly magnify the small field of your mouth and enable Dr. Gamba to visualize conditions that are undetectable to the naked eye. This results in better restorations for our patients.




Computerized Injections
The discomfort of an anesthetic injection comes mainly from the pressure of the injected solution. With the computer-controlled syringe or "wand", we set the machine for the type of injection to be given. The computer controls the flow of anesthetic through the wand at a slow and steady drip so there is no shock from the pressure of the injection. The numbness occurs gradually but completely. The wand also enables us to perform different injection techniques that can numb a single tooth rather that the entire side of the mouth. For the many dental patients whose biggest fear is the "needle", the wand is a real blessing.

Dental Unit Water Safety
You should be aware that low levels of microorganisms (such as bacteria) are normally present in municipal water systems. A thin layer of these microorganisms, known as biofilm, accumulates in common devices used to transport water, such as showerheads, faucets and fountains. Biofilm may be present in your home or office, as well as in the waterlines of the handpieces used for dental procedures.

There is no scientific evidence that demonstrates adverse health effects from the water in dental unit waterlines - scientists have not established any link between dental unit water and harm to a patient. However, we are dedicated to the safety and comfort of our patients, to the highest quality care and to the prevention of disease. So we have taken measures to insure that the waterlines in our office are completely safe.

Our dental units are supplied by a separate, filtered water line. The water first passes through a standard paper filter to remove the larger particulates and rust. It then passes through a 3-stage water sterilizer – the first stage is a 100-micron charcoal filter, the second stage is a 1-micron filter and the third stage exposes the water to UV light – this process kills 99.999% of all waterborne bacteria and viruses.

The measures we have taken for our waterlines exceed the standard guidelines established by both the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The safety of our patients is a top priority. As new products become available and research provides us with new technologies, we remain committed to ensuring the highest possible quality of care.

Intra Oral Camera
The intra-oral camera wand takes a close-up picture of a tooth that is projected on a television monitor. It enables the patient to see the tooth problem first-hand at 40x magnification, and then see the solution after the tooth is restored. It also helps us to diagnose fractured teeth, cracked fillings and other problems that may not be visible to the naked eye.