Is 3D imaging necessary, or are regular X-rays sufficient?

For many routine procedures, traditional 2D X-rays provide adequate information. However, 3D imaging becomes essential for complex cases like implant placement, impacted tooth evaluation, and airway assessment. Dr. Cooper only recommends 3D scans when the additional information will meaningfully impact your diagnosis or treatment planning, not as a routine procedure for every patient.

Are laser procedures more expensive than traditional methods?

Laser procedure costs are typically comparable to traditional techniques. While the technology itself represents a significant investment, the benefits of reduced discomfort, faster healing, and often fewer follow-up appointments provide excellent value. We discuss costs for all treatment options during your consultation.

Do digital impressions work for all restorations?

Digital impressions work exceptionally well for crowns, bridges, veneers, and many other restorations. However, some complex cases may still require traditional impressions. Dr. Cooper selects the impression method most likely to provide optimal accuracy for your specific situation.

Will I be exposed to more radiation with all this dental imaging technology?

Actually, the opposite is true. Modern digital X-rays use up to 90% less radiation than traditional film X-rays, and our CBCT scanner delivers detailed 3D images with far less radiation than medical CT scans.

How does digital technology improve my treatment outcomes?

Digital technology improves outcomes through increased accuracy in diagnosis and treatment planning, better-fitting restorations from precise digital impressions, optimal implant positioning from 3D imaging, and reduced healing times from laser procedures. The combination of these factors leads to treatments that last longer, feel more comfortable, and achieve more predictable results.

Dental Technology in Scottsdale, AZ

State-of-the-Art Equipment for Precise, Comfortable Dental Care

Modern dentistry has been revolutionized by technological advances that improve diagnostic accuracy, treatment precision, and patient comfort. At Pristine Dental, we invest in cutting-edge equipment that allows us to provide the highest quality care with greater efficiency and predictability.

Our commitment to advanced technology, combined with Dr. Keith Cooper’s three decades of experience implementing innovative techniques, ensures you receive treatment that’s both technologically sophisticated and guided by clinical judgment.

Located on East Thomas Road in Scottsdale, our modern facility serves patients throughout Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills, and Phoenix with technology that makes dental care more accurate, comfortable, and efficient than ever before. Call our Scottsdale dentists at (480) 935-2424 today to schedule your appointment.

Technology Meets Dr. Cooper’s 30+ Years of Experience

Technology is only as effective as the clinician using it. Dr. Cooper has been at the forefront of dental technology adoption for over three decades, providing him with extensive experience in translating advanced tools into superior patient outcomes.

Dr. Keith Cooper

30+ Years of 3D Surgical Planning

Dr. Cooper has been planning surgeries three-dimensionally for over 30 years, beginning with hands-on physical models and evolving to today’s sophisticated digital planning software. This extensive experience with spatial visualization and surgical planning—both traditional and digital—provides a deep understanding that newer practitioners who’ve only used digital tools may lack.

20+ Years as a Laser Dentist

For more than two decades, Dr. Cooper has utilized laser technology for soft tissue procedures, developing exceptional skill in techniques that many dentists are only now beginning to adopt. His extensive laser experience allows him to perform procedures with greater precision, less discomfort, and faster healing than traditional methods.

This combination of technological skill and decades of clinical experience ensures you receive care that leverages the best of modern equipment while benefiting from seasoned judgment that technology alone cannot provide.

Our Advanced Dental Technology at Pristine Dental

CBCT Cone Beam 3D Imaging – Sirona Orthophos SL 3D

Three-dimensional imaging has transformed dental diagnosis and treatment planning. Our Sirona Orthophos SL 3D cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanner provides detailed 3D views of your teeth, jaw, sinuses, and surrounding structures that traditional 2D X-rays cannot capture.

Benefits for Implant Planning: CBCT imaging is essential for precise implant placement. The 3D scans reveal exact bone density, nerve locations, sinus proximity, and anatomical structures, allowing Dr. Cooper to plan dental implant position with millimeter accuracy before surgery begins.
Comprehensive Diagnostic Information: Beyond implants, CBCT imaging helps diagnose impacted teeth, evaluate TMJ problems, assess airway issues, locate root canal anatomy, and identify pathology that 2D X-rays might miss.
Lower Radiation, Higher Comfort: Modern CBCT technology delivers detailed 3D images with significantly less radiation than traditional medical CT scans. The scan takes only seconds and requires no uncomfortable positioning or contrast agents.

Biolase Waterlase iPlus Laser

Laser dentistry represents one of the most significant advances in patient comfort and treatment precision. Our Biolase Waterlase iPlus system uses laser energy combined with water spray to perform a wide range of procedures on both hard and soft tissues with exceptional precision and minimal discomfort.

Soft Tissue Procedures: The Waterlase excels at soft tissue treatments, including gum contouring, frenectomies, crown lengthening, and treatment of gum disease. Laser procedures typically involve less bleeding, less swelling, faster healing, and often require no sutures compared to traditional scalpel techniques.
Hard Tissue Applications: The Waterlase can also be used for cavity preparation and tooth structure modification, often reducing or eliminating the need for the dental drill. Many patients find laser cavity preparation more comfortable than traditional methods.

Digital X-Rays

an x-ray of teeth Digital radiography has replaced traditional film X-rays throughout our practice, providing immediate images with up to 90% less radiation exposure. Digital X-rays appear on chairside monitors within seconds, allowing us to review them with you immediately and explain findings in real-time.

The digital format also allows us to enhance images, adjust contrast, and zoom in on specific areas for better diagnostic accuracy. Digital storage makes accessing previous images easy, allowing us to track changes over time and share images with specialists when necessary.

iTero Intraoral Scanner

Our iTero digital scanner captures highly accurate 3D impressions of your teeth without the discomfort of traditional impression materials. The small scanner wand takes thousands of images per second, creating a precise digital model of your teeth in minutes.

Improved Patient Comfort: Digital scanning eliminates the gagging, discomfort, and unpleasant taste associated with traditional impression trays filled with putty material. Most patients find the scanning process comfortable and even interesting as they watch their teeth appear in 3D on the monitor.
Greater Accuracy: Digital impressions are more accurate than traditional impressions, leading to better-fitting crowns, bridges, and other restorations. The system detects errors immediately, allowing us to rescan specific areas if needed rather than discovering problems only after sending impressions to the lab.
Faster Turnaround: Digital impressions are sent electronically to our dental laboratory, eliminating shipping time and allowing fabrication to begin immediately. This often reduces the time you spend wearing temporary restorations.
Treatment Visualization: The iTero scanner includes visualization tools that can show you simulations of potential treatment outcomes, helping you understand how procedures like veneers or orthodontics will change your smile before treatment begins.

Benefits of Advanced Dental Technology

Modern dental technology provides advantages that improve every aspect of your care experience:

More Accurate Diagnoses: 3D imaging and digital X-rays reveal problems that might be missed with traditional 2D radiographs, leading to earlier detection and more conservative treatment.
More Precise Treatment: Digital planning tools and intraoral scanning ensure restorations fit properly and implants are positioned optimally, improving success rates and longevity.
Increased Comfort: Laser procedures, digital impressions, and advanced imaging techniques reduce discomfort during and after treatment compared to traditional methods.
Reduced Radiation Exposure: Digital X-rays and modern CBCT scanners use significantly less radiation than older imaging technologies while providing superior diagnostic information.
Faster Treatment: Digital workflows eliminate shipping delays, reduce the number of appointments needed, and allow us to complete many procedures more efficiently.
Better Communication: Chairside monitors displaying your X-rays, 3D scans, and intraoral images help you understand your oral health and proposed treatments more clearly than verbal descriptions alone.
Improved Outcomes: The combination of advanced technology and Dr. Cooper’s extensive experience using these tools leads to more predictable, longer-lasting results.

Advanced Dental Technology in Scottsdale, AZ