We pride ourselves on providing our patients with the highest quality care and personalized service. Combining these values with cutting-edge technology, we can deliver an unmatched patient experience from start to finish.
Dental technology is constantly evolving. We always seek new and better ways for our practice to deliver the most effective care and treatment plans using dental technology in our Concord and Lexington, MA, offices at Concord Lexington Periodontics.
Advanced Digital Dentistry
Some of the latest dental technologies, techniques, and treatments you’ll find at Concord Lexington Periodontics include:
LANAP® Laser Dentistry
We provide treatments using LANAP® dental lasers to treat gum disease as an alternative to traditional surgical procedures.
Benefits of laser treatment include:
- Faster Healing – This procedure is a minimally invasive procedure that allows the body to heal itself quickly
- Less Discomfort – Due to the bio-stimulation capabilities of the Periolase, there is usually little to no discomfort for our patients. It is very rare to prescribe pain medication post-op.
- Less Downtime – Most patients who opt for laser gum surgery can return to their daily activities the same day!
- Little to No Recession – Patients travel from across the state to have laser surgery because it does not lower the level of the gum line like traditional surgery.
- Reduce Inflammation and Bleeding – The PerioLase® MVP-7™can remove 90% of the inflammation in your mouth after one visit. The laser targets the bacteria in your mouth while keeping the healthy tissue intact.
- Minimal Bleeding – With this procedure, we can control the bleeding with the laser. This results in less bleeding and complications.
- Saves Teeth – Patients’ number one reason to receive laser gum surgery is to save and keep their natural teeth.
- Bone Regeneration – This is the only protocol scientifically proven to regenerate bone around teeth.
Very Safe – This laser has zero contraindications, meaning it does not interfere with any disease or medication.
BMP-2
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 is a protein already present in the human body that promotes the growth of new bone. Also known as BMP-2, it been studied for decades because of its remarkable ability to heal bone. It almost completely eliminates the need for bone graft harvesting from other parts of the body.
Before a dental implant can be placed, the doctor must determine if enough bone is present to support the implant. In many instances where a tooth has been missing for a year or more, bone loss can be significant and may require bone-grafting procedures to build up the bone.
Traditional bone grafts use bovine minerals, human cadaveric or autogenous bone. Autogenous bone grafts use a patient’s own bone harvested from another location on the body, an additional surgical procedure many patients wish to avoid.
Recently the FDA approved using Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 (BMP-2) in bone grafting procedures. BMP-2 is a genetically made protein that has the ability to grow bone from the patient’s own cells for bone grafting. BMP-2 is naturally found in the human body in small quantities.
However, BMP-2 is manufactured in a special facility to provide clinically useful amounts. BMP-2 stimulates the production of new bone naturally during bone grafting procedures.
The BMP-2 material can prevent bone loss in the jaw after extraction and regenerate bone for dental implants or sinus and ridge augmentation. Clinical results have shown it is superior to standard methods and is a safe, reliable bone grafting material.
Cone Beam CT Scan and 3D Imaging
CT Scans and Cone Beam Imaging systems generate 3D, high-definition x-rays within seconds. The panoramic images are remarkably clear, which helps with diagnosing and treating dental ailments. These scans allow us to quickly assess your dental needs and get you back out enjoying your life in less time than you might expect from traditional imaging equipment.
The health and safety of our patients is our highest priority, which is why we refer our patients to a Cone Beam imaging center. Unlike traditional X-ray systems, the Cone Beam system produces a very low radiation dose, thus reducing unnecessary exposure.
The Cone Beam is used in many dental procedures. It can be used to determine a treatment plan for dental implants, helping determine the size and placement of the implant. It can also be used to diagnose and treat periodontal disease.
Cone Beams give us a clear view of facial nerves and bone structure, which allows us to plan a customized procedure to protect your nerve endings. Such advanced technology allows us to minimize pain and speed healing!
Digital X-rays
Knowing that your doctor is keeping up with the constant and rapid advancements in modern technology is important. Digital x-rays are just one more advantage you will have when you visit our office. Instead of a conventional film, we use a special computer sensor that puts the X-ray picture directly into the computer, allowing us to reduce the amount of harmful radiation by nearly 90%.
Since the pictures are in the computer, we can enhance the images to better diagnose conditions–often before they become problems. This proves to be much more convenient for you because the X-rays can be displayed on the computer right before you!
Patient benefits include:
- Less exposure to radiation
- Faster turnaround time
- Shorter appointments
- Involvement in co-diagnosis
- Improved understanding of the treatment options
Electric Handpieces
When most patients associate a sound with a dental office, they usually think of the “whiney” hand-held drills that dentists use during many procedures. Many patients report a strong fear in reaction to the whiney sound of the dental drill.
Air-powered handpieces (drills) all have a degree of non-concentricity, meaning that they do not rotate perfectly smoothly. This lack of precision can make achieving beautiful results challenging.
Our office uses electric hand pieces that rotate far more smoothly, resulting in extremely precise dental work. Electric handpieces also produce less vibration and allow for more precision.
Not only will the results of your treatment be noticeably better, but the electric hand pieces are also virtually silent. Without the whine of the dental drill, you can relax throughout your treatment.
The combination of less noise and less vibration ensures that your dental work will be done with a precision never before achieved using a traditional dental handpiece.
MI Paste Plus™
MI Paste Plus™ is the only product for professional use with a special milk-derived phosphopeptide called RECALDENT™ (CPP-ACP) designed to bind calcium and phosphate to tooth surfaces, plaque, and the surrounding soft tissues. The paste protects teeth from caries development and is more effective than fluoride treatments alone.
MI Paste Plus™ is also used to reduce or eliminate white spots on teeth. It works by helping the teeth remineralize the white areas, and, as a result, the white spots disappear. It also helps to reduce sensitivity to hot or cold liquids or foods. The paste also reduces acidity in the saliva by reducing the ability of bacteria to cause decay. MI Paste Plus™ decreases the effect of acid reflux on the teeth.
This water-based, sugar-free crème is enhanced with fluoride (900ppm) and applied directly to the tooth surface or oral cavity. It is specially designed for patients at a higher risk for dental caries or dental erosion.
MI Paste Plus™ is safe and easy to use at home or work. It is recommended for patients with marked salivary dysfunction (dry mouth), which medications, systemic illness, or salivary glad disease can cause.
Dry mouth can cause an enhanced risk for mineral loss from dental caries or dental erosion. However, MI Plus Paste™ improves saliva flow and fluoride uptake and soothes sensitive surfaces. It can also be claimed on insurance as a fluoride treatment, so many patients pay little to nothing!
MI Paste Plus™ can be used for the following:
- To reduce white spot lesions
- To reduce sensitivity to hot or cold liquids or foods
- During and/or after orthodontics
- To reduce salivary deficiency/dry mouth
- To reduce acidic oral environments
- For erosion due to gastric reflux
- To treat patients with poor plaque control
- To treat patients with a high risk for dental caries
- To provide extra protection for teeth
Oraqix®
Forget the needle! We offer needle-free pain relief for many dental procedures! Oraqix® is a needle-free anesthetic that is administered topically and below the gum line. Oraqix® is effective and efficient for many dental procedures and offers our patients a needle-free alternative to traditional anesthetics.
We may recommend this alternative anesthesia for several reasons, including:
- A needle-free option is overwhelmingly preferred over traditional anesthetics. In clinical studies, 70% of patients preferred Oraqix® to needle injection.
- Numbing occurs quickly, usually within 30 seconds.
- The sensation of numbness usually lasts about 20 minutes. So, normal sensation is typically returned when your appointment is completed!
- Oraqix® is site-specific, allowing the doctor to selectively numb specific areas of the mouth.
How it Works
Oraqix® is first applied to the gums around the area receiving treatment. The gel is applied using a blunt-tipped applicator. After waiting 30 seconds, the pockets around the teeth are filled with Oraqix®. After waiting an additional 30 seconds, treatment can begin. Delaying treatment does not enhance the anesthetic effect. The scaling and root planing or alternative procedure can then be completed.
Piezosurgery
To place a dental implant that will be most successful, it may be necessary to modify the jawbone to create the ideal site to receive the implant. Piezosurgery is often used to perform those surgeries that are needed.
Piezosurgery is a recently developed system for cutting bone without damaging soft tissue using ultrasonic micro-vibrations. Developed for use in Oral Surgery, Implantology, and Periodontics, this innovative technology allows doctors to perform procedures that were not previously possible.
Traditional methods of bone-cutting (i.e., drills and burs) can result in some tissue and bone loss, no matter how careful and precise the doctor may be. Piezosurgery eliminates this risk. Instead of drilling, Piezosurgery uses ultrasonic vibrations produced by a special surgical instrument to achieve unparalleled precision and patient comfort.
The doctor can perform procedures such as extractions, crown lengthening, periodontal therapy, and dental implant site preparation with increased accuracy and minimal discomfort. Leading doctors across the country are achieving consistently positive results using Piezosurgery. Patients are seeing amazing results with faster healing time, less swelling, and less post-operative pain!
LANAP® Laser Technology
Our office uses LANAP® lasers to promote periodontal regeneration. Studies have shown that the use of this technology in the treatment of gum disease results in less tooth loss and increased healthy gum tissue.