The transition to a completely digital office is one that has occurred over 18 months beginning August 2005, with incorporation of 2 servers and distant back-up of data.  Some of you have seen that occur right before your eyes, but for the majority, the changes were subtle and less obvious..

Some years ago, this office transitioned to digital photographs.  More recently, in late 2005, we began digital radiography.  This means we can communicate with your family dentist or a dental specialist of your choosing with email that can include current photographs and x-ray images.

In early 2006, the practice transitioned to paperless charting.  For newer patients (since March 2006), there never has been a folder with pieces of paper in the conventional 'chart'.  For those patients with paper charts, pertinent information from their chart was scanned into their new digital chart. The paper version wasn't discarded but is being retained for archival purposes.

In November 2006, we inaugurated the use of virtual plaster study casts.  This means when you have impressions made for diagnostic purposes, the study casts are now viewable as if in three dimensions on a computer screen.  The decision to move to digital models was triggered by an announcement by the American Board of Orthodontics that candidates interested in standing for Board Certification may now use digital models in their case presentations.

The last hurdle occurred in February, 2007. Virtual 'crooked' teeth can be straightened on a computer screen, and virtual braces matching exactly our prescription of real braces are placed on the virtual teeth in such a way as to create that finished result.  The virtual finished set-up is then reversed back to the 'crooked' condition so as to create a view of where the braces will be in the patients' mouth now so as to produce that final look.

Next, using Tomahawk missile guidance system technology (seriously!), a lab technician places the real-life braces on a real-life plaster cast to exactly match the virtual bracket placement on the virtual model of the teeth.  The real brackets are then transfered from the plaster cast in the lab to the patient's mouth in our office, taking the same amount of office time it would take to put them on one-by-one.

Who wins with this technology? YOU!  This added layer of technology at least reduces the number of long appointments in the office needed to reposition braces toward the end of treatment, which is a step that occurs for >95% of our patients.  Add to that the use of 'smart wires' (meaning wires made of alloys that are heat/cold sensitve) and now appointment times can be anywhere from six to eight weeks apart, another time savings for the family.

We are pleased to see how this new technology supports our mission: "Producing smiles with excellent service, quality treatment and fair fees presented in a comfortable atmosphere, making communication key to patient care."