Digital vs. conventional x-rays, and using very low-dose, 3-d imaging for improved diagnosis and treatment
Believe it or not, 28 million liters of toxic x-ray fixer and 4.8 million lead foils are generated every year by some dental offices in the United states alone. While dentists are responsible for the safe disposal of these dangerous materials, they still have to go somewhere, right? We know that they can produce target-organ tissue damage including adverse reproductive and respiratory effects. For that reason, our office utilizes the newer digital x-ray technology which eliminates all of this while reducing x-ray exposures by 90%! We have also added and use the latest technology in low-dose, 3-D cone beam imaging to optimize our ability to detect and diagnose infection or pathology, as well as facilitate the proper placement of bone grafts and dental implants.
Digital patient records to improve privacy, storage and security of your personal patient information
The volume of paper being consumed today by health care providers using conventional records is astounding. The use of paperless, digital computerized records has diminished this immensely. In our office today, the use of paper is limited to information that we must manually collect or personally hand to our patients in the office. All of our signed patient records are then scanned, encrypted and stored into the computer. All of the confidential patient-signed forms are then shredded and recycled. All of our insurance billing procedures are submitted electronically. Digital imaging, digital patient charting, digital impressions and digital diagnostics are the future of the dental industry – all environmentally friendly.