The Role of Technology in the Orthodontic Treatment Process
At our orthodontic clinic in Calgary, dental technology plays a role in just about everything we do.
We use technology to help us understand the nature of your orthodontic issue in detail. It allows us to make a detailed diagnosis, which in turn means highly customized treatment planning to meet your needs and goals in the safest and most efficient way possible.
Our technology also guides us in developing personalized treatment plans and adjusting them periodically as required.
At each step of your orthodontic journey, you will encounter our technology as we use it to help you better understand your condition and treatment plan.
Digital X-rays
Digital X-ray technology uses digital sensors and a computer to produce detailed, high-quality internal images of your teeth and gums.
Digital X-rays allow your orthodontist to see the position of your teeth under the gums, as well as the surrounding bones, and to make a diagnosis of your orthodontic condition. They also help us identify things that may impact your orthodontic treatment, like developing tooth decay and previous dental restorations. All of this information is essential to diagnosis and treatment planning.
Panoramic X-rays
Panoramic X-ray technology allows your orthodontist to capture a single, comprehensive image of the teeth, jaws, and surrounding oral structures. This wide-view image helps provide an overall understanding of how the teeth and jaws are positioned and developing in relation to each other.
Panoramic X-rays are commonly used to assess tooth development, eruption patterns, root structure, and how the teeth are positioned within the jaws. This information helps us to make careful, informed decisions in the treatment planning phase.
Cephalometric X-rays
A cephalometric X-ray is a specialized image that shows a side view of your head, including your teeth, jaw, and facial profile. This type of imaging helps your orthodontist understand how your teeth and jaw relate to each other and to your facial structure.
Cephalometric X-rays are frequently used to assess jaw growth, identify misalignments, and plan orthodontic treatments such as braces or aligners. They also help monitor changes over time, ensuring your treatment advances as planned and your bite stays in harmony with your facial proportions.
iTero™ Intraoral Scanner
The iTero intraoral scanner is a handheld imaging device. It creates highly detailed, three-dimensional digital impressions of the hard and soft tissues of the mouth, without the need for goopy impression materials! The process is minimally intrusive; you simply open wide, and your clinician will move the device around your mouth, capturing images. It only takes a few minutes to complete.
The system then renders 3-D models of the inside of your mouth, which are displayed in real time on a touch screen.
Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT)
CBCT is an advanced imaging technique that uses a specialized X-ray to create high-resolution 3D images of dental structures and tissues in the craniofacial region. This technology captures comprehensive data from a single scan, enabling detailed analysis and diagnosis of oral health conditions.
SmileSnap Virtual Consultations
Our Calgary orthodontists offer virtual orthodontic consultations so you can explore treatment options from the comfort of your home. When you click the button below to start a virtual consultation, a SmileSnap pop-up window will open and guide you step by step through the process, including taking and submitting a few clear photos of your smile. Once your photos are received, our team will review your submission and follow up with next steps.
During your consultation, your orthodontist will review what can be seen from your photos, answer your questions, and discuss potential treatment options. You can also learn about estimated costs and our in-house, 0% interest payment options to help determine next steps.
DentalMonitoring
At Surrideo Orthodontics, we utilize a smartphone app called DentalMonitoring to monitor your orthodontic treatment. Using the app on your phone, you will take a scan of your teeth which will be analyzed using AI technology to track your treatment progress. These photos are then reviewed to track how you are progressing and if any adjustments to your plan need to be made.
As long as you have wifi access, you can take these photo scans and upload them from anywhere! This means less trips to our practice, but you will still have access to our team through the app.