High-Tech Systems at Our Dental Office

Dr. Litman has created an office environment that incorporates the best available dental equipment, allowing him to skillfully provide gentle, in-depth care as well as address the dental anxiety that some dental patients experience.  With sedation dentistry offered at their practice, along with a full range of high-tech dental systems, patients can feel confident and relaxed when they visit Village Dental Care.  Some of the technology available includes:

• Casey - Computer Patient Educational System
• Computers in Every Room
• DIAGNOdent - Diagnostic Laser System
• Digital Intraoral Camera
• Digital Photography
• Digital X-rays
• Gum Re-contouring - To Improve Your Smile
• Internet - High Speed Especially For Our Patients
• Laser Dentistry
• Laughing Gas – Nitrous Oxide
• Magnification Loupes
• Mercury Free Tooth Color Fillings
• Migraine and Headache Prevention
• Oral Cancer Screening - VelScope
• Panoramic X-rays
• Sedation Dentistry
• Ultrasonic Cleanings

We want our patients to feel confident in the choices they make for their dental care.  One way we help our patients fully understand their options is through patient education.  The CAESY patient education system features interactive video descriptions and animations of some of our most popular restorative, crowns, bridges, gum disease, root canal therapy, dental bonding, custom dentures, cosmetics, sedation dentistry and laser dentistry options which we show on a Flat Screen HD Television in all of our operatories.

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Having a computer in each treatment room allows Dr. Litman to access patient records without leaving the patient's side.  Chairside computers also show the images obtained from the digital intraoral camera and digital x-rays for both Dr Litman and patient to see.  With Internet capability all x-rays and photos can be emailed and consultations with specialist and labs is easily achieved.

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It can sometimes be difficult to diagnose cavities, especially when they hide in the crevices of the back teeth.   The widespread use of fluoride in supplements, toothpastes and drinking water has made tooth surfaces harder and more resistant to decay.  X-rays and probing with an explorer are limited in detecting sub surface decay, particularly when the cavity is in its early stages.  

Fortunately, the new DIAGNOdent is a major breakthrough that allows us to monitor the areas below the hard surfaces.  We can't cure what we can't see!  Early detection of problems minimizes the expense related to major tooth repair.

We use the DIAGNOdent system - a diagnostic laser dentistry tool that allows us to find tiny areas of decay and treat them early before it destroys tooth structure from the inside out and develops into larger problems.  The DIAGNOdent system scans the teeth with a harmless laser light and is able to find small areas of decay that can’t be seen with the naked eye or on an x-ray.  We use this during regular oral examinations so that we can ensure that potential problems are caught and treated early.

It is patient friendly, especially for children.  This unique instrument provides instant feedback on the health of the tooth.  A pen like probe simply glides over the tooth surfaces constantly checking the health of the tooth.  A number scale and an alarm signal the operator when there are signs of hidden decay.  The new technology is completely safe and pain free.

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In addition to digital x-rays, we also take digital photographs during examinations. Digital photographs help communicate details to the dental laboratory for the creation of smile makeovers.  Dr. Litman currently uses a Canon digital camera with a 100 mm macro lens for detailed close up images, and a Canon ring flash.  The digital photographs that are created with this setup are extremely detailed.

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If you’ve ever tried to hold perfectly still in an awkward position as you bite down on an rough and tasteless little piece of plastic, then you know that having dental x-rays taken can be uncomfortable.  Luckily, technology has found a way to make x-rays easier for patients and actually create better images than ever before.  Digital x-rays, now available at Village Dental Care, make dental x-ray discomfort a thing of the past.

Dr. Litman uses digital x-rays to ensure accurate diagnosis and superior dental care. Capturing an image with digital x-rays is not only faster than with traditional x-rays, it is also safer.  It reduces exposure to radiation by as much as 90 percent.

During the process, Dr. Litman will place a small sensor into the mouth and record images of your teeth that will be instantly transmitted to a computer screen, so there is virtually no wait to see the results.  You will be able to see any problems for yourself and actively participate in the planning of any treatment options with Dr. Litman.

In addition, digital x-rays can be stored in our computer system and can be transferred to dental specialists quickly and easily if needed.

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Many patients develop gum recession around dental crown margins, which can cause an unsightly black line at the gumline.  Other patients have an uneven contour of the gumline, or an overly "gummy" smile, which can adversely affect their appearance. Fortunately, Dr. Litman can perform gum re-contouring to create beautiful smiles for his patients.  Gum re-contouring is a minor oral surgical procedure, typically lasting less than one hour, which can dramatically improve a patient's smile.  During the gum re-contouring procedure, Dr. Litman will gently reshape the gum tissue to create a gumline that proportionately frames the teeth.  Through gum re-contouring, he can make small teeth look larger or balance an uneven gumline by removing excess gum tissue.  He can also adjust the gum tissue to eliminate the black line caused by dental crowns.

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The use of computers and its internet has helped my practice stay on the cutting edge when it comes to diagnosis and best treatment for my patients.

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Laser Dentistry is a relatively new technique that can enhance the precision of your dental treatment while reducing pain and recovery time. Laser Dentistry can be a safe and effective alternative for patients who have localized dental and/or oral problems, or patients who experience fear when it comes to dental drills. The FDA has approved the use of lasers for many dental procedures, including the treatment of gum lesions and tooth cavities. Laser Dentistry provides several options in the treatment of both hard and soft oral tissue and has proven to be a popular choice among dental patients.    

Benefits of Laser Dentistry

• Some dental procedures may not require sutures (stitches)
• Anesthesia may not be required for some dental procedures
• Laser Dentistry minimizes bleeding because the high-intensity light beam aids in the clotting of exposed blood vessels, inhibiting blood loss
• Bacterial infections are reduced because the high-intensity beam sterilizes the area being worked on
• Because the beam can be focused on a specific area, damage to surrounding tissue is minimized
• Because of the sanitary nature of Laser Dentistry, wounds heal faster and healthy tissues regenerate quickly

• Cavity Detector: Low intensity dental lasers may be used for the early detection of cavities by providing an assessment of the bacterial level produced as a tooth begins to decay
• No Pain, No Shots: Dental lasers may completely eliminate the need for a local anesthetic injection as well as the use of a traditional dental drill
• Tooth Sensitivity: Dental lasers may be used to seal areas on the tooth root that are responsible for hot and cold tooth sensitivity

• Crown Lengthening: Dental lasers can reshape soft gum tissue and hard bone tissue to achieve a healthier tooth structure. Such reshaping provides a stronger foundation for the placement of restorations such as crowns, bridges, implants, and tooth bonding
• Muscle Attachment (Frenula): A laser frenectomy is an ideal treatment option for children who have a restricted or tight frenulum (the tissue that connects the underside of the tongue to the bottom of the mouth) and babies who have difficulty breastfeeding due to limited tongue movement. A laser frenectomy may also help eliminate speech impediments
• Soft Tissue Folds (Epulis): Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of soft tissue folds often caused by ill-fitting dentures and/or dental bridges

• Optical Coherence Tomography is a safe way to see inside teeth and gums in real time to assess damage that is not visible to the naked eye
• Dental lasers may be used for the painless and suture-free removal of benign tumors from any area inside the mouth
• Low intensity dental lasers reduce pain associated with cold sores and minimize healing time, sometimes reducing herpetic outbreaks
• Low intensity dental lasers can be used to revitalize damaged nerves, blood vessels, and scars
• In cases where sleep apnea is a result of a tissue overgrowth in areas of the throat, a laser procedure can be utilized to reshape the throat and relieve the associated breathing problems sleep apnea can cause
• Low intensity dental lasers may be used to speed up the teeth bleaching/whitening process
• Dental lasers may be used to reduce pain and inflammation of the temporomandibular jaw joint which is often caused by nighttime teeth grinding and/or clenching of the upper and lower jaws

One of the major advantages of Laser Dentistry is the fact that procedures often can be performed with less discomfort and postoperative pain than with typical tools and methods. As applications for dental lasers develop, we'll be able to use lasers to treat a wider variety of dental problems, providing our patients with specific, on-target treatment that may reduce pain and decrease recovery time as well as alleviate intense fear of the dental drill. Call Dr. Larry Litman at Village Dental Care today to find out if you're a candidate for Laser Dentistry. It's changing lives!

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With Nitrous Oxide there's no "hangover" effect - the gas is eliminated from the body within 3 to 5 minutes after the gas supply is stopped.  You can safely drive home and don't need an escort.

Nitrous oxide works very rapidly - it reaches the brain within 20 seconds, and relaxation and pain-killing properties develop after 2 or 3 minutes. The depth of sedation can be altered from moment to moment, allowing Dr. Litman to increase or decrease the depth of sedation.

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To help Dr. Litman see the small details, He utilizes dental magnification loupes during procedures and examinations.  Not only do they help him to catch potential problems before they are noticeable to the naked eye, they also help him perform procedures and treatments with extreme precision.  He also uses magnification loupes during laser dentistry to help make procedures precise, allowing treatments to be as conservative as possible.

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Mercury is a toxic substance and since we have other optional materials to choose from to replace it, it should not be used for fillings.  When we have to replace old mercury-silver (amalgam) fillings, either because there is decay around them, or because they're just unsightly, we use tooth-colored plastic or porcelain filling materials.  Some studies have shown that mercury from amalgam fillings can be absorbed into saliva and the bloodstream, and your oral and overall health can be severely compromised.  Therefore, Dr. Litman uses only fillings and materials that are mercury free.

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There’s a chance that they could be related to your bite.

• One in 10 Americans suffer from migraines.
• Three out of 4 migraine sufferers are women.
• One in 50 suffer from chronic migraines, which occur more than 15 days a month.
• Eighty five percent of migraine sufferers had a 75 percent decrease in pain by using the NTI, the FDA has confirmed.

Many migraine sufferers may now be able to open their mouths and kiss headaches goodbye, thanks to a small dental device recently approved by the FDA.  If you're among the 28 million Americans afflicted with migraines, you may have already tried progressive muscle relaxation, hot baths, yoga, biofeedback, meditation and over-the-counter painkillers.  You may have kept a migraine diary to determine what triggers the attacks.  You might be getting enough sleep, eating right, cutting back on coffee and tea and shunning tobacco entirely.  You've probably discussed the effects of estrogen with your doctor and even tried prescription medicines.  All of these have helped some migraine sufferers.  If they haven't helped you, you may be skeptical, but government studies have shown real results with the NTI Tension Suppression System.

It's a small device that fits on two front teeth and reduces the muscle contractions that occur when you clench your jaw tightly or grind your teeth.  Its inventor is a dentist who used to suffer from chronic headaches and designed the prototype for his own use.

What if you don't have migraines but you have seen your doctor for garden-variety chronic head-and-neck aches?  Good news!  The NTI works even better in reducing pain from those headaches.

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Did you know that the death rate for oral cancer is higher than that of cervical cancer, Hodgkins disease, cancer of the brain, liver, testes, kidney, or skin cancer?
Oral cancer kills 7,000+ Americans each year but, like many cancers, can often be treated if caught early.

Oral cancer can occur in any part of the mouth, including your lips, gums, tongue, salivary glands, and throat.

Oral cancer can often be difficult to detect in its early stages. However, some signs of oral cancer may include:

• Mouth pain
• Sores or lesions in the mouth
• Jaw movement difficulty
• Chewing and swallowing difficulty
• Throat pain
• Unexplained bleeding in the tongue, cheeks, or gums
• Specific numb areas of the mouth

The first step in treatment always includes regular dental screenings and checkups. We use advanced technology called the VelScope. This screening is simple, comfortable and very effective in detecting areas of concern. Finding a problem early improves your treatment and outcome options

If a problem is discovered from the screening, we may take a biopsy of the affected area to determine whether it is oral cancer.

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Many dentists must send patients to a special X-ray lab when regular single-frame X-rays don’t detect problems.  Village Dental Care has their own panoramic X-ray equipment, which takes a single-wide image of the entire mouth right in their office.  Its simple, fast and easy to use even for children.

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We do everything we can to help make your dental care as comfortable as possible. In addition to providing a soothing and friendly atmosphere in our office, we offer sedation dentistry to help our patients receive the care they need without the anxiety. We can often perform multiple treatments, such as those involved in a smile makeover or full mouth rehabilitation, in just one office visit while the patient is under sedation.

Sedation dentistry is extremely beneficial for people who:

• Experience a high level of anxiety about visiting the dentist
• Have complex dental problems requiring multiple treatments
• Experience difficulty becoming numb
• Have a highly sensitive gag reflex

feel pain and anxiety, and you will emerge from this state feeling calm with little or no memory of the treatment process.

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One of the biggest barriers to the undeniable benefit of regular cleanings is the discomfort of old-fashioned metal tools.  Our practice offers ultrasonic cleaning, which uses high-frequency sound waves to break up plaque and tartar and a stream of water to rinse it away.  However, for those patients who experience dental anxiety even when undergoing a minimally invasive procedure such as an ultrasonic cleaning, we provide sedation dentistry to provide a more comfortable dental experience.

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