The most important technology at our dental practice is the skill and education of our dental team. Everyone at Hillsboro Dental Excellence goes through extensive advanced training that goes far beyond the minimums necessary to practice dentistry in Oregon.
Dr. Skinner regularly lectures and instructs dentists worldwide and is considered one of the most educated and experienced Dentists worldwide in cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign, dental implants and sleep apnea dentistry.
Having the very best, most technically advanced equipment also helps deliver the best dentistry possible for our patients. Here is a short list of some of the state-of-the-art equipment we have available at our practice to get our patients the best possible dental outcomes.
1. Itero Laser Scanner
When you consider Invisalign, dental implants, crowns, or bridges, accuracy makes all the difference in the quality of the final outcome. We are so proud that we can offer our patients the most advanced method of full mouth digital 3D intraoral scanning available. The state-of-the-art iTero Digital 3D Laser Scanners replace the highly uncomfortable, out-of-date, and inaccurate process of taking physical impressions with the messy putty material mold to make a model of your teeth. The scanner itself is a compact, hand-held wand. It can scan your teeth in far less time and with much more accuracy and precision while eliminating all the discomfort from the procedure of the past dental impression methods. With this higher-level precision, you will be sure to get the fastest, best possible healthcare. The Itero scanners also allow us to scan your teeth at checkups to see if you have lost tooth structure from grinding, have gum recession, or have decay in-between your teeth since the scanner also scans in near-infrared.
2. Fotona LightWalker Sleep Apnea and Dental Laser
The Fotona LightWalker Dental Laser allows Dr. Skinner to do a multitude of dental procedures in the most precise and painless way. Patients can relax knowing that the dentist can achieve more predictable and painless outcomes by utilizing this amazing new dental technology.
We specialize in Nightlase sleep apnea treatment at Hillsboro Dental Excellence. During this procedure, we use the laser to gently and painlessly tighten the collagen in the back of the throat to open the throat and treat snoring and sleep apnea. There is nothing more significant than changing our patient’s lives for the better, and quite often, that begins with sleep. The laser can open up our airways, minimizing and even curing snoring and sleep apnea with no pain, surgery, bulky devices, or medications.
Other Uses for the Fotona LightWalker Laser Include:
- No-Anesthetic Fillings
- Lip Enhancement and Shaping
- Rejuvenates Skin and Removes Wrinkles
- Treating Sleep Apnea
- Laser Root Canals
- Painless Periodontal Procedures
- Repairing Dental Implants
- Treating Cold Sores, Herpes Lesions, and Canker Sores
- Preparation of Teeth for Crowns
- Easy Removal of Ceramic Crowns and Veneers
- Hair Regrowth (really!)
- TMJ Pain/Jaw Pain Management
3. Formlabs Dental 3D Printer
With our Formlabs 3D Dental Printer, we can eliminate the steps of:
- Shipping impressions to and from our labs
- Using the services of an off-site laboratory
This saves a lot of time and is much more precise, giving you the best quality and fit!
Computer-Aided Design (CAD) software enables the dentist to digitally design Invisalign, dental implants, crowns, bridges, caps, dentures, and more. Being able to do all of this from the comfort of the dentist’s office allows our dentist office to produce these products less expensively, faster, and with more precision. This allows the patient to save money AND get the best outcome possible. Frequently, a scan can be done, and a product can be created and delivered on the same day!
4. Digital Smile Design 3D Dental Software
Digital Smile Design is software that uses high-definition digital photographs and images of the patent’s teeth, gums, lips, and other facial features to design a patient’s smile in 3D virtually. This allows the patient to work together with Dr. Skinner and our team to virtually design the smile that gives them the most confidence and happiness.
Designing the smile in 3D allows us to precisely plan the case to give you the best possible outcome to get the smile you deserve! The software will enable you to see exactly what your smile will look like before you approve your case.
5. Kavo OP-3D Color 3D X-ray Machine
A Conebeam Computed Tomography machine (CBCT) is used to take 3D X-rays for our patients. 3D X-rays allow us to understand what lies beneath the bone that holds the teeth in 3D instead of only in two dimensions. This 3D view will enable us to understand your case better to do the best job possible for you.
We can use the 3-dimensional data to:
- Perfectly place dental implants with computer-guided placement
- Diagnose problems with teeth or jaws
- Visualize a patient's airway and help screen for sleep apnea
- Screen for nasal problems
- Screen for Cancers
- Check for the health of the TMJ and Jaws
- Check the health of the sinuses
- Help perfect the planning of moving teeth orthodontically.