SAdvanced Technology

WELLNESS DENTISTRY (AKA THE WHOLE BODY APPROACH)

We believe that a healthy mouth, leads to a healthy life!   

• You get a mapping of the mouth with a digital wellness scan.  You get t see what’s happening to assess your teeth, bite and gums.  With time-lapse technology, we can track it from one year to the next! 
• Every patient gets a comprehensive exam. This includes checking mouth pH (how acidic is it?  Will cavities grow very easily in this environment?) and screening  nitric oxide levels (are they optimal/low/depleted? important for relaxing blood vessels and healthy heart and blood pressure).   Many patients opt to send spit samples for analysis to a lab so that we can learn if there are high levels of “bad” bacteria and dysbiosis (imbalance of the good and pathogenic organisms) and how best to gain control of their mouth health.
• Functional bite evaluation – Dr. Grace evaluates how the teeth and jaws fit together and assess your airway and the big picture. Did you know that chronic mouth breathing or a narrow jaw structure can lead to resistant strains of bacteria flourishing in the mouth?  A bad bite can cause chronic chipping of the teeth, trauma to the jaw joint, headaches, unwanted drifting teeth, sensitive roots on sides of teeth, and interfere with proper swallowing, tongue posture, breathing and sleep?   
• Leave excited to know how to best take care of your teeth and actionable next steps for health.

We take the time to consider how to best pursue health now, and set up for  future success, too.  We ask questions and listen because one size doesn’t fit all.   We do the “regular dentistry” that patients need, conservatively.  We also have the expertise to provide insight, counseling and tools for optimal longevity and quality of life.

same day crowns (and partial crowns)

Same-day dentistry means getting the care you need without the wait. Using state-of-the-art technology, including our Glidewell IO Fastmill, we design and fabricate custom crowns and partial crowns right here in our office—often in a single visit. This advanced process delivers precise, durable restorations with a comfortable fit, so you can skip temporary crowns, reduce appointments, and leave with a confident, natural-looking smile the same day.

Precision Dentistry

For the most precise aspects of restorative procedures, we use electric hand-pieces. This results in extraordinarily precise interfaces between your tooth and your new restoration (dental crown, tooth veneer, or tooth filling). This will bring more comfort to you as well. With a more precise tool, there is less vibration and less noise.   

We use custom loupes, specialized lenses with magnification and light during treatment. We provide you with sunglasses for your comfort as well. 

Digital Imaging

Dr. Hwang chooses carefully which and when radiographs are taken. There are many guidelines that we follow. Radiographs allow us to see everything we cannot see with our own eyes. Radiographs enable us to detect cavities in between your teeth, determine bone level, and analyze the health of your bone. We can also examine the roots and nerves of teeth, diagnose lesions such as cysts or tumors, as well as assess damage when trauma occurs.

Dental radiographs are invaluable aids in diagnosing, treating, and maintaining dental health. Exposure time for dental radiographs is extremely minimal. With digital x-ray imaging, exposure time is about 50 percent less when compared to traditional radiographs and 10-100 times less than an airplane ride from west coast to east coast. Digital imaging can also help us retrieve valuable diagnostic information.  

remineralizing NO-DRILL OPTIONS

If we can detect a cavity before it matures and crosses through the outer enamel “shell” of the tooth, we can heal it using remineralizing peptides, such as Curodont, from Switzerland.   In some cases, SDF (silver diamine fluoride) is an effective approach to stop decay from getting worse, too.   

An assessment both visually (clinical exam) and x-ray provides insight on whether this is a good option for you. 

Ozone disinfection

We offer powerful, natural disinfection with a medical-grade oxygen gas, ozone water and/or treatment oil.   This is an adjunct available at our office when we  cavities, infected teeth, diseased gum tissue that complements conventional treatment, desensitization and healing. 

Intraoral Camera

Many patients, especially younger patients, are very familiar with the latest technology and are comfortable with the high tech practice. Computers and TV screens are their primary method of information processing.

Dr. Hwang utilizes Intraoral Camera technology that helps enhancour understanding of your diagnosis.  We take view precise images of your mouth, teeth and gums to accurately make a diagnosis. With clear, defined, enlarged images, you see details that may be missed by standard mirror examinations. This can mean faster diagnosis with less chair-time for you!

Intraoral cameras also enable our practice to save your images in our office computer to provide a permanent record of treatments. These images can be printed for you, other specialists, and your lab or insurance companies.

Because we take progress photos, before, during and after treatment of teeth, you can see what the cavity, crack, diseased area looked like (if you are interested!).  We find our patients find this visual recap helpful in understanding treatment and empowers them see how they can best care for their teeth going forward.