Technology

The Latest Technology To Help Your Smile

At Speaks Orthodontics, we use the most state-of-the-art technology available to help create the smile you want, which is why we use the iTero™ Digital Orthodontic Impression System.

Using the iTero™ digital scanner, we will take three-dimensional digital images, or impressions, of your teeth and bite. No impression trays with sticky putty needed! These images are sent directly to Invisalign®, resulting in a reduction in wait time to start treatment.

Some benefits of iOC™ digital impressions over traditional putty impressions include:

• Accuracy: They capture the exact contours of your teeth.
• Efficiency: They require less time in the treatment chair.
• Comfort: Taking the digital images is less invasive. No putty is used, and patients are more at ease without fearing they will gag on the impression trays.
• Customizability: They provide a digital plan and allow for trays that are tailored to meet the individual needs and desires of each patient.
• Visualization: They provide each patient with a definite picture of what their teeth will look like before, during, and after orthodontic treatment.
• Innovation: They use the most advanced 3-D video technologies.

The iTero utilizes laser and optical scanning to digitally capture the surfaces and contours of the teeth and gum structure in amazing detail. The images are captured by a hand-held photo wand that records 100,000 points of light, 50 microns apart, to create perfectly focused images of your teeth.

The digital impressions will help us formulate a personalized treatment plan that meets your specific needs and desires. We can also use them to visually show you your treatment options and help us keep you up-to-date on your treatment progress.

CBCT Scanner

As a part of our office’s commitment to delivering quality and modern orthodontic care, we’ve invested in some of the most cutting-edge technology, such as the CBCT scanner. CBCT stands for cone-beam computed tomography, and this device is an X-ray machine that uses radiation beams to capture a 3D image of a patient’s mouth, teeth, and jaw. We typically only need to put this device to use when normal X-rays fail to give us the entire picture we need to assess your orthodontic needs.

It works by rotating 360 degrees around the head of the patient and taking a series of images that are compiled to make a more comprehensive image that we can use to make informed treatment decisions. This piece of technology is unique because instead of just showing bone structures, it also gives us a detailed image of soft tissue and nerve pathways.

When you come in for this scan, it will last about 10 to 40 seconds and will painlessly capture every angle of your face, mouth, and jaw. This advanced imaging system is non-evasive and one of the best ways for us to see the structures of your face. We believe in providing customized treatment plans that address your specific needs. The CBCT scanner gives us the opportunity to see the intricacies of your mouth with tools such as a 3D model of your teeth. We can even identify potential issues before they affect your orthodontic treatment, such as Temporomandibular Joint Disorder and jawbone deterioration.

With just a single scan, Dr. Speaks can have a whole new perspective on your oral health and facial structures. This insight will allow him and the rest of our team to best serve you while in treatment. Customized orthodontics begins from the very first visit, and we are passionate about delivering vibrant smiles engineered for you by using advanced technology and processes.

Digital Treatment Simulation

Digital Treatment SImulation allows our team to present patients with a rendering of different treatment outcomes before they make their final decision. At Speaks Orthodontics, we design smiles that are customized to each patient. A part of this customization is having an open dialogue with our patients about our recommendations for their orthodontic needs and what their expectations are for corrective treatment. By seeing what the final result will look like, it’s easier for our family of patients to make informed decisions about their desired aesthetics before they commit to a specific treatment.

We’re able to show them these projections by taking pictures of the patients’ current smiles and using Smile Design Software to show them what their smiles would look like after various treatment options. We can even show it side-by-side with your current smile, so you can see how different the two images are. This may make it easier for you to understand the treatment plans we propose and how they will benefit your smile in the long run. This realistic simulation gives our patients a clear idea of what they are working toward, an element that is often missing in treatment at most orthodontic offices. It can be discouraging to work toward a goal you’ve never seen, and we want to provide you with the motivation to power through treatment with ease.

We are excited to show you the end results of the processes we’ve perfected and even more excited to join you on this journey to the smile of your dreams. This life-like representation of your future smile is the perfect way to kick off your treatment. Modern technology such as Digital Treatment Simulation allows us to best serve our patients by providing them with comfort and assurance that breaks the cycle of anxiety people feel when walking into oral healthcare offices.

Digital Smile Design

Digital Smile Design is a process during which we plan a treatment based on an assessment of a patient’s dental and facial structures. We are able to analyze these structures through the use of videography and other pieces of digital technology. DSD was engineered to address the patients’ needs as the guiding principle. The purpose of this treatment planning tool is to provide a more comprehensive service that best serves your orthodontic needs. We are passionate about reaching our community with modern service, and this is just one example of the cutting-edge technology our office has invested in.

We only adopt technology and processes that we believe are solving an issue or creating a new pathway that is essential in the better care of our family of patients. Digital Smile Design meets our personal quality standard by providing consistently flawless results. We begin the process by taking 3D images and videos of your mouth. This scan is then uploaded to the DSD software, where we can assess what treatments would work best for your needs; we can also use these images to create a model that represents your preferred aesthetics as well as addresses the issues that may be present in your current smile.

Speaks Orthodontics is all about customizing smiles that reflect the patient’s expectations, and one of the reasons we love the DSD program is because it gives you a voice in your treatment. As we design what your future smile will look like, you have the opportunity to voice what your expectations are for treatment and how you’d like your smile to look after you complete the process. After all, this is your oral health and aesthetics, so you should be able to make a decision that is true to your lifestyle and preferences.

After we decide on a projected smile model, we can begin planning your treatment and preparing your mouth for this process. At the end of the Digital Smile Design Program, you will have the vibrant smile you’ve always wanted.