DIAGNOdent Laser

Our DIAGNOdent LASER detects even the smallest cavitites at the earliest possible level. This laser actually looks beneath the surface of your teeth to detect decay on the inside. This has become important because with the widespread use of fluoride, the outer tooth surface is more decay resistant but decay can get an undetectable "foothold" and grow to the inside of the tooth before symptoms appear. DIAGNOdent helps out patients avoid the liklihood of root canal infections. This is truely a breakthrough in terms of cavity detection and prevention.

Digital X-ray

Digital x-rays are an extremely progressive addition to our dental office. Digital x-rays are computer-generated images. Thse images require up to 90% less radiation than with conventional film type x-rays.

A dental digital x-ray (radiography) system can take a picture of your teeth, then almost immediately shows it to you on a computer monitor while you are in the dental chair. you no longer have to sit there for fifteen minutes and wait for x-ray film to develop . . . and develop . . .

The on-screen picture will look like a dental x-ray image but a lot bigger! Your dentist can zoom in on a single tooth, rotate it, sharpen it and colorize it - all to aid in your diagnosis.

Want to take home that stunning tooth image? Your dentist can print out a color copy for you!

How it Works

We place a small, flat sensor in your mouth. The sensor is connected to a computer by a thin wire. Next, an x-ray beam is sent through your teeth and into the sensor, which records the image of your teeth and sends it to the computer. The sensor can then be repositioned tp photograph other sections of your teeth.

Why it's Good

Your dental checkups take less time. Because the dental Digital X-ray system is more sensitive than dental x-ray film systems, your exposure to x-rays is cut as much as 90%. The large and color-enhanced images let you see what your dentist sees, so it's easier for you to understand how your dentist will treat your teeth. Used photo chemicals and film are not dumped into the environment.

Prep Star

Treating Tooth Decay... a Gentler Way

In 1998, our office added the Prep Star kinetic cavity preparation system, an exciting new advance in microdentistry. We hope the following information will help you better understand this instrument and its use.

What is the Prep Star and how does it work?

It's a new instrument that can be used as an alternative to the drill in some procedures. Minute particles almost too small to be seen with the naked eye are carried to the tooth by a stream of air, gently and precisely spraying away decay.

What does it mean to me as a patient?

Thanks to its precision and gentleness, the Prep Star allows us to treat decay at an earlier stage without as much removal of healthy tooth material. Teeth treated this way may be less likely to require crowns in the future. Smaller fillings are less susceptible to wear and may last longer. Used in conjunction with dental sealants and the new "flowable" dental composite resins, this system is the most conservative of all techniques. We are able to diagnose the current state of dental caries much earlier in the disease process and more accurately with the aid of intraoral digital photography and the Diagnodent, a laser caries detection system.

The Prep Star system creates a cavity surface that is so ideal for use with tooth-colored (composite) fillings, we can place those fillings faster than ever before. In some instances, the KCP actually allows us to complete your treatment in fewer visits.

Will it hurt?

The aspect of the Prep Star that many patients appreciate most is its comfort. While no treatment is truly painless, the Prep Star system greatly reduces heat and vibration, two major sources of discomfort traditionally associated with fillings. That's why the Prep Star can often be used without anesthetics. This also enhances our ability to treat patients who are pregnant or medically compromised. With the Prep Star, we can often treat children without the two things they fear the most - the needle and the drill.

Is it safe?

Absolutely. The tiny particles we use are alpha alumina, a pure, biocompatible substance long used in medicine and food. In fact, it is a prime ingredient in several whitening toothpastes. Only a tiny amount is actually used in each procedure and most of it is immediately removed by our evacuation system. Laboratory tests show that patients would have to undergo about 28 typical 20-30 second Prep Star procedures in order to inhale enough alpha alumina to equal the weight of one grain of table salt.

Are any precautions necessary?

We will ask you to wear special glasses to protect your eyes from irritation. As an added precaution, we will sometimes shield off parts of your mouth which aren't being treated.

What does it sound like?

The most noticeable sound most patients hear is the evacuation system which removes particles from the mouth. The Prep Star itself makes a blowing sound similar to an airbrush or an aerosol can being sprayed.

What can it be used for?

Besides tooth-colored fillings, the Prep Star is very useful in a number of cosmetic procedures such as veneers, inlays and onlays. It also allows us to apply preventative sealants in a matter of seconds - a time frame even shorter than the attention span of most youngsters!

When I come to your office, will I be treated with the Prep Star?

Not necessarily. Though the Prep Star will dramatically reduce our overall reliance on the drill, it is not appropriate for every part of every procedure. For example, we will continue to use the drill to remove silver (amalgam) fillings and for crown preparations. Please ask us about the role the Prep Star might play in your treatment.

How can I learn more about Prep Star?

If you call our office at (415) 693-9139, Dr. El Natour and his staff will be happy to answer any questions you may have relating to any of your dental needs.

A new alternative to the drill, the Prep Star, makes it easier for us to create fillings that leave more of your healthy tooth structure intact. It also makes it easier to treat decay at an earlier stage.

Metal Free Dentistry

In recent times the cavities in the teeth were filled with metal or silver-mercury (yes, mercury!) amalgam. While you probably realize such fillings are unattractive in your smile, you might be surprised to learn they are hazardous to your teeth! Silver-mercury fillings react to temperature changes, expanding and contracting within your delicate tooth. This movement can weaken the tooth, causing it to break. It can also a space between the tooth surface and filling that allows bacteria to enter, causing decay. Fortunately, there are metal-free fillings - white composite fillings, porcelain inlays and onlays, and bonded porcelain crowns -- that are stronger and safer for your teeth. Best of all, they are virtually invisible, keeping your smile white and attractive.

EMPRESS

IPS Empress is a metal-free restorative material that has been used in dentistry for more than 15 years. And, its long-term beauty and clinical success are backed by hundreds of scientific studies.

Repair and Correct Teeth that are Chipped, Worn or Cracked Perhaps it wasn't a big deal at first. Then, it seemed larger than life. You notice a small chip on one tooth, perhaps a crack on another, and now your teeth appear more worn than ever. You're embarrassed to smile, and you wonder what other people think. IPS Empress can change that. Depending on the results of a thorough evaluation by Dr. El Natour, your smile can be improved with IPS Empress.

Replace Old Metal-Based Fillings When you laugh or open your mouth in amazement, are you stunned by your old, dull and unattractive metal-based fillings? Chances are, they may make you feel uncomfortable. Today, however, we can use IPS Empress to replace that dental work with restorations that blend right into your natural teeth. Called inlays or onlays , these small pieces of all-ceramic material are created in a laboratory to fit perfectly in place where cavities or previous dental work used to be. Or, if your teeth are extensively damaged from cavities or have larger fillings, crowns can be used. But, whether inlays/onlays or crowns are used, you'll be able to open wide and say "Wow" when you see how beautiful and natural your teeth look and feel.

Close the Spaces Between Teeth Did you know the gaps between your teeth--called diastemas--can leave a big gap in your life if you're not smiling? With IPS Empress veneers or crowns, we can change that, creating a perfectly aligned smile that's beautiful, symmetrical and completely yours.

Brighten Up Severely Stained Teeth Coffee, tea, wine, and even necessary medications can leave their mark on natural teeth over time, making them stained and discolored. While tooth whitening can help in some cases, in others, IPS Empress restorations from your dentist are the answer. Based on your own personal characteristics and preferences, your dentist will select a tooth color shade that's best for you to brighten up your smile and eliminate those unsightly discolorations. With IPS Empress, you'll be flashing those pearly whites in no time!

PROCERA

Procera AllCeram is a restorative system manufactured by Nobel Biocare. It allows restorations such as crowns to be constrcted without the use of metal. Many patients are now demanding metal free restorations as a way to avoid the darkening that can sometimes appear at the top of crowns made from metal and porcelain. Procera is a proven system to achieve this with over 2 million restorations placed.

Procera Scaner

If you were to have a Procera crown made for example the preparation and impression would be carried out as for any crown. The impresssion is then cast in the laboratory and a model produced. The model is then computer scanned and the results sent to Sweden where a core is produced to which the dental technician then adds porcelain.

Procera restorations have extremely low fracture rates thus providing long lasting restorations with excellent aesthetics. The core is translucent and can be used on discloured teeth. The maunufactured nature of the core ensures excellent fit and strength. The restorations are very biocompatible producing good soft tissue response. They can be used in combination with implants. Ask your dentist for details.

Ignite the White! Zoom! Chairside Whitening System

Our office is proud to offer the radically new "Zoom!" in-office tooth whitening system that uses a full-mouth bleaching light combined wtih a revolutionary 25% Hydrogen Peroxide light activated gel to lighten teeth 6 to 10 shades in about an hour.

Get ready to Zoom!

A combination of new cutting edge technology, 15,000 Zoom! Lamps in the field plus over a decade of unparalleled whitening experience went into the new & completely redesigned Zoom2. It's the fastest, most effective and most comfortable Zoom! whitening system ever.

At Today's Dentistry, we have been using the original Zoom! whitening system for years with outstanding results. Now, with the arrival of Zoom 2, we are more excited than ever about getting patients teeth white. Zoom 2 is the best whitening system in the dentistry today and it only takes 45 minutes! Wow. Come in today for a consultation to see if Zoom 2 is right for you.

33% Faster- Results in only 45 minutes (an average of 8 shades in 45 minutes).

Easier- The new zoom2 advanced optical guidance system ensures quick, precise patient set-up for optimal results.

How does Zoom 2 work?

The "photo-fenton" reaction of peroxide and iron produces hydroxyl radicals, a.k.a. "stain terminators." This light reaction cyclically renews the iron, so it continues to produce hydroxyl radicals, significantly enhancing whitening results.

CONEX Sterilization Center

The complete sterilization solution for our busy dental office. High production dedicated sterilization center. Separate contamination stations and wrapping stations discourage cross-contamination: integrated rapid dryer reduces need to handle instruments.

Aquastat Water distiller

Our patients are protected by using only 99% pure, fresh water. SciCan's AQUASTAT distiller allows to forget about buying bottled water or risking damage to the equipment from less than pure distilled water. A patented distillation technology kills harmful bacteria and viruses by flash vaporizing water and then reconstituting it through condensation. The result is water that's 99% pure. So pure, you could even drink it!