It is fair to say that the world of dentistry has progressed a lot in the 20th and 21st centuries. Not only can this be seen in terms of the number of different types of dental treatments that now exist, but also in the advancement and development of technology that assists dentists with the treatments they provide. These modern tools of dentistry are of a wide and diverse variety, and many dentists will use certain variations of modern dentistry tools that others will not. For example, a dentist in Sydney CBD may choose to use some of the tools that are typically associated with modern dentistry, whilst other dentists will use different modern tools, relative to how each dentist prefers to deliver different types of treatments. Nonetheless, it can still be useful to have a better general idea about what the modern tools of dentistry actually are and how they are used, in order to be more aware of the tools and procedures used when you next receive dental treatment. In this article some of these tools  will be examined, and more information about them shall be provided.

What are these modern tools?

There are many examples of modern dental equipment to look at, however one of the most important used by nearly all dentists nowadays is the computer. Often, computers are integrated into a dentist’s office and put next to the dental chair. These computers will often be connected to computerised cameras, which can take pictures of a patient’s teeth and gums and display them on the computer screen, as well as being able to show the dentist X-ray images of the mouth as well. The computer is also an important resource for a dentist because of its capacity to store data, such as dental records and any photos taken during a patient’s previous visits to the dentist. This can be useful both for seeing which treatments a patient may benefit from, as well as being a good visual aid to help explain why treatments are needed and how they will work.

Indeed, computerised machines are often very useful for a dentist to have. In fact, many dentists will now have a computerised machine that is able to sculpt dental crowns.

A dental crown is a small tooth-coloured cap, designed to cover the surface of a tooth. It can be necessary for you to receive a dental crown as part of dental treatment, possibly to protect a weakened tooth from damage, or to restore a tooth which has been partially or fully broken down or chipped away (amongst many other reasons). They can be made of a few different materials – and which one will be used is often determined by the reason for which you are receiving them – though many are made of durable materials, such as porcelain or resin, which are designed to look and feel like natural teeth.

Without the assistance of a computerised machine, it would be more expensive and time consuming to sculpt dental crowns, as they would have to be carved and shaped by hand. These days, data about the exact required measurements for a dental crown can be input into one of these machines, which allows said machine to use tiny robotic arms to carve out a dental crown which will fit a patient’s tooth snugly, as intended.

Any surgical or invasive procedure carries risks. Before proceeding you should seek a second opinion from an appropriately qualified health practitioner.