Latest Equipment

Radiography - Digital Cone Beam CT, Digital OPG, and Digital Intra Oral Sensors.

This practice is equipped with the latest digital diagnostic radiography tools to enable accurate diagnosis, development of treatment plans, and continuing treatment.

Cone Beam Computed Tomography is a type of radiograph commonly referred to as a Cat Scan. This is a type of radiograph that gives a 3 dimensional view of the area to be examined. It is used to identify pathology, to identify anatomical features required for treatment such as root canals when carrying out endodontics, and to help in assessing suitable sites and aid in planning for implantology . The unit which we have selected provides a view of the mouth, the sinuses, the temporomandibular joints, and neck region with very high resolution while exposing the patient to a minimal dose of radiation.
http://www.planmeca.com/index.php?lng=1&page=63212
Orthopantomogarm (OPG) An orthopantomogram is a type of radiograph that gives a 2 dimensional image of the mouth, temporomandibular joints, and sinus region. This is often used to identify conditions such as periodontal disease, impacted third molars, or to give a wide view when looking for non-specific pathology. Again this is a digital radiograph associated with which is a minimal dose of radiation, but which gives a high quality image.
http://www.planmeca.com/index.php?lng=1&page=00366
Digital Intra-oral Sensors High resolution Intra-oral sensors are used to achieve accurate diagnostics in both routine intra oral examinations and when diagnosing and or detecting caries and other pathology. All results are instantaneous and displayed on a screen in front of the patient. We have multiple sizes and shapes of these sensors which maximizes comfort for patients and guarantees accurate results during radiography procedures.
http://www.planmeca.com/index.php?lng=1&page=63201

Conditions able to be detected through digital x-rays, which may not be seen during routine examinations until they reached an advanced stage include:

Gum disease
Oral cancer
Cysts
Abscesses
Early development of tooth decay
Loss in jawbone density due to periodontal disease

Digital x-rays are efficient and emit up to 80% less radiation than traditional x-rays, which also require film and chemical processing. They can be stored electronically and emailed to specialists to whom you may be referred for more complex procedures.

Digital x-rays also help us monitor your treatment progress. How often you will need to have updated digital x-rays will be dependant on your personal needs and diagnosis of your current oral health.

Microscope

One of the most important aspects of dental care at St Vincent’s Dental Centre is early detection and treatment of potential problems. We utilise the leading microscopic technology developed by OPTO. The utilisation of microscopes as part of your preventive and treatment care enables our team to precisely examine your teeth and perform operations at a microscopic level.

When using high magnification during procedures, we are able to see microscopic details that are impossible to visualise with the naked eye or loupes (magnification glasses). By using surgical operating microscopes, dental restorations have an incredibly precise fit and finish. Microscopic dentistry enables a clinical precision in dental care that is exceptional in every respect. Our ability to implement very high levels of magnification to improve diagnosis and treatment is transforming the level of care we can provide you and your family.

Digital Colour Matching

Colour matching is assessed electronically using shade Pilot. Gives remarkably accurate colour matching. Individual colours and areas of translucency are mapped in adjacent teeth so that all restorations including all crowns, implant supported crowns, and even composite resin restorations can be made to mimic existing teeth so that they are not noticeable as having been restored.

http://www.dentsply.com.au/uploadedFiles/1163127486234-9085.pdf

CEREC restorations

CEREC is a computer restoration system that allows us to provide accurate and natural looking ceramic dental restorations in a single visit to our centre.

At SVDC, we understand your time is valuable and as such have installed this sophisticated technology to provide ceramic restorative solutions without awkward impressions, temporary fillings and multiple appointments.

After examining your tooth and determining the best course of treatment, we will prepare your tooth for its restoration, similar to traditional treatment methods.

We will then use the CEREC digital 3D infrared scanning system to create an optical impression of your tooth. This cutting-edge technology allows for a precise replica of your tooth structure to be created.

Following this, specialised state-of-the-art CAD (Computer Aided Design) software will design and mill every intricate detail of your restoration with extraordinary accuracy.

In the past, to offer crowns, veneers, inlays and onlays, you would have to wait around 2 weeks for them to be fabricated in a dental laboratory. This was often a deterrent for many patients and they would avoid accepting these most optimal treatment procedures.

Without compromise in quality of material or overall function, we can now offer a more time efficient option to ensure your treatment is completed with little disruption to your busy schedule.

Intra-Oral Camera

An intra-oral camera is a highly advanced piece of diagnostic equipment that enables you to see on a monitor what we see during your examination. This allows us to point out areas of concern and explain in more detail exactly what needs to be done, such as restoring worn or broken fillings, cracked teeth, plaque build-up, cavities next to fillings and excessive tooth wear. This provides you with a better understanding of your current oral health

The intra-oral camera handpiece has a built-in light source and a miniature video camera with a 25 times zoom magnification so we can explain to you in detail what needs to be done and you can make informed treatment decisions with confidence. Still images can be stored so that we can compare changes at each of your examinations; they can also be printed and emailed if necessary.

In-chair Entertainment

The team at St Vincent's Dental Centre wish to provide you with a relaxing and enjoyable experience while visiting our practice. We have installed an in-chair entertainment system consisting of CD and DVD player, and flat screen LCD T.V. We encourage you to select from our range of music CD’s or if you prefer to watch a movie one of our DVD’s so you can lay back and relax. This will make your treatment go by much faster and be more enjoyable, you are also welcome to bring in your own music or favourite movie.

OPG Panoramic X-ray and Cone Beam CT Scanner

At St Vincent's Dental Centre we have an in-house OPG (Orthpantomograph) x-ray machine. This is a sophisticated x-ray machine that allows for a complete panoramic x-ray of your teeth, upper and lower jawbones and joints. This is very useful for diagnosing TMD Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction. This single image shows the number, position and growth rate of all of your teeth, including those that have not yet erupted.

SVDC has also invested in the latest Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanning equipment to ensure a high degree of accuracy and diagnostic anaylsis prior and during the placement of your dental implant.

Rotary Endodontics

Rotary endodontics is the procedure of using nickel titanium files to achieve more effective cleaning of the tooth’s root canals. Unlike previous root canal treatments, using rotary endodontics is a painless and a-traumatic procedure. The procedure is quick; even multi-rooted teeth with complex root canal structures can be completed in a single visit. Devices such as the Morita Tri-auto XZ and Dentsply X-smart allow us to measure the length of the root canal electronically as we prepare them. These new techniques to close/obturate the root canals now produce more predictable results with no discomfort during or after the procedure. New local anaesthetic techniques mean that root canals are no longer a painful experience!

Local Anaesthesia

We utilise new techniques in local anaesthesia to make all dental treatments more comfortable and to totally remove the anxiety attached to dental treatment. There use new local anaesthetics which give a more profound and effective anaesthesia. We have a new device for administering local anaesthetic called The Wand. The wand is a device which replaces the needle and syringe. It provides a computer controlled, controlled infusion of local anaesthetic which is not painful and enhances the effectiveness of local anaesthetic.

http://www.milestonescientific.com

Routine cleaning automated

Scaling and cleaning is no longer an unpleasant experience. Scaling is carried out carefully and effectively using ultrasonic scalers and staining and plaque is removed using prophy-jets which spray a mixture of sodium bicarbonate, water and compressed air to effectively clean and polish the exposed areas of teeth. For patients who are extremely sensitive to the cleaning process, we utilise a topical anaesthetic, Oraqist, which is applied to the soft tissues around the teeth to be cleaned to give a painless cleaning experience No injections are required. We utilise the Oraqist technique for applying local anaesthetic interproximally (between adjacent teeth) without injecting; to enable painless scaling and cleaning without the downside of having lasting numbness associated with infiltration or block injections.

http://www.oraqix.com

Periodontal treatment

Periodontal treatment is enhanced by use of the Florida Probe. This is a constant force probe which allows the dentist to measure the depth of periodontal pockets accurately and to automatically record the data electronically onto the patient’s history.

www.floridaprobe.com

Laser Surgery

Soft tissue surgery is carried out using a soft tissue laser operating at 970nm. This allows us to painlessly undertake minor soft tissue surgery, prevents post-operative bleeding and produces predictable results.

http://www.sirona.com.au/ecomaXL/index.php?site=SIRONA_COM_sirolaser_advance

Digital Photography

All images taken in our practice are recorded digitally. We have a number of different types of cameras which we use to maintain treatment records and to help in diagnosis during treatment. Digital Intra-oral cameras are used to help identify and diagnose tooth fractures, wearing and deteriorating restorations, and dental caries. Digital SLR cameras with wide angle and macro lenses are used to give perspective and close-up extra-oral views. These are used in record taking before, during and after treatment. They create a digital record of treatment and outcomes and produce images which can viewed by patients and clinicians and help in determining treatment regimes and guiding aesthetic outcomes. All cameras have wireless internet connectivity and images are shown on screens for patients to view and immediately stored on patient files.