Welcome to the Rye Smiles for Life Blog

Technology in general is accelerating by leaps and bounds, and the technology involved in dentistry is no different. However, it’s important to recognize that technology does not mean anything without the expertise to go with it. What makes the biggest difference in modern dentistry is not only state-of-the-art equipment, but the knowledge of how to use that equipment to give patients the best possible experience in the dentist’s chair. In addition, the latest technology can also help patients live a life with better oral health, which in turn can lead to better overall health.

One of the most important advances in dental technology is the development of laser dentistry. Lasers can make dental procedures less painful, faster, and can help improve and reduce healing times. Lasers also help patients by allowing for less invasive procedures. There are many ways that laser dentistry can help you reach your dentistry goals, including gum re-contouring and periodontal treatments. With re-contouring, the gums are reshaped by laser to even out the gum line and lengthen teeth, while periodontal treatments kill bacteria and cut away diseased tissue in a very precise way.

But lasers are only one technological advancement that dentists use. Digital Smile Design allows the dentist to use a computer representation of a patient’s mouth to show them what their smile would look like with some aesthetic improvements. The patient can then see how they would appear after restorations or cosmetic dentistry, which in turn allows them to make informed decisions regarding which procedures they want to have.

Computer-based bite analysis, on the other hand, is less about cosmetic appearance, and more about fixing neuromuscular issues like TMJ disorder. For those suffering from unexplained headaches, jaw pain, or neck pain, bite analysis can give invaluable information that can help the dentist correct fundamental issues with bite and jaw placement. Many times, simple procedures can lead to dramatic improvements and relief from pain.

These are just a select few ways that dental technology is making people’s lives healthier, easier, and happier. Even if you just come in for regular checkups, the systems the dentist uses to keep track of your oral health are much better than they were even just ten short years ago. As time goes on, of course, the technology will only get better, which means the dentist will be able to help even more patients have the best oral health they can possibly have, for the rest of their lives.

—
D. Gordon Rye, D.D.S. has more than 28 years of experience in providing Exceptional Dentistry to residents of Northern Virginia, including Fairfax County and the Vienna / Washington, D.C. area. As a cosmetic dentist, he ensures that each patient’s smile is as beautiful as it can be for many years to come. He can be found on Google Plus, Twitter, and Facebook

If you’re looking far the latest technology for dental and oral diagnostics, a cone beam CT scan is the most advanced procedure there is. Making the right choices in dentistry first depends on knowing exactly what sort of situation we’re dealing with, and with equipment like the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT, within seconds we can see everything that’s going on in the mouth, teeth, jaw, and airway.

This means that you do not have to schedule two appointments in order to learn what your options are – we can do the scan and diagnosis on the same day, and inform you of the best treatment path for you.

Not only is the cone beam scanner more convenient for you, it’s also healthier. A traditional fan beam CT exposes the patient to approximately 80% more radiation than is experienced in a cone beam CT. The structure of the scan is different, and the scan time is much faster, as well, which helps minimize radiation exposure.

In our Fairfax dentist office, we prefer the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT for a variety of diagnostic uses. It’s the absolute best method for planning dental implants, but can also help us diagnose things like periodontal disease and jaw tumors. It can help us see the full picture when it comes to impacted teeth, and can even assist us with treating problems like TMJ and sleep apnea.

The PreXion 3D scan also helps us show you exactly what’s going on in your mouth, so that you can better understand the diagnosis and treatment options that are presented to you. This can help you to feel more confident about visiting the dentist, as there are no question marks and everything is made perfectly clear with the help of the scanned 3D image.

But the best part of the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT is how it benefits us when it comes time for you to have a procedure. Because of the accuracy of the scan, we can see the mouth in great detail exactly how it is, and this means that there are no surprises when it comes to the procedure. We can reduce the anesthesia and procedure time, which in turn means that you will have a reduced recovery time.

As if that weren’t enough, the PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT costs much less than having a CT scan done the old-fashioned way, so there’s no reason not to take advantage of this amazing technology.

We have a PreXion 3D Cone Beam CT scanner in our Fairfax dentist office, so you can get your scan without having to visit two locations.

Everything we do revolves around providing exceptional dentistry to our patients. Now, with PreXion 3D imaging, our patients can actually see the bone structure of their mouths. This technology allows us to determine the exact position and condition of each tooth, root structure, and the jaw – in 3D! The image can be rotated, circled, and viewed from within and without. What was once science fiction is now a tool we use to map the precise route to restoration or surgical repair.

What Is Cone Beam CT?
PreXion3D Cone Beam CT (computed tomography) imaging involves the use of an x-ray
arm rotating around your head. While the arm rotates, it captures multiple images and sends
them to a digital computer. The digital computer reconstructs the images into a 3D image of your
internal anatomy.

As opposed to traditional 2 dimensional x-ray technology, 3D Cone Beam CT imaging has
the unique ability to differentiate tissue types, significantly increase resolution and provide
your dentist with the ability to see any area of your dental anatomy from any angle.
Your dentist can use this information to make accurate 1-to-1 measurements, identify

PreXion3D Cone Beam CT brings x-ray imaging to the next dimension by providing 3D images that
allow us to safely diagnose and customize your treatment like never before. PreXion3D combines the highest quality 3D images and the most powerful software in the industry, enhancing implant planning, oral surgery, endodontics, periodontics, restorative, general dentistry and much more.

What is PreXion3D Cone CT imaging used for?
• General Dentistry
• Oral surgery
• Implant planning
• TMJ analysis
• Airway study (sleep apnea)
• Jaw tumors
• Impacted teeth
• Periodontal diseases
• Endodontic anomalies

Better Understanding
Within seconds of the PreXion3D scan, we can present you with the 3D & MPR images, give you
a virtual diagnosis, offer up a personalized treatment plan with the expected outcome all in one visit.

Outstanding Results
The PreXion3D scanner offers enhanced accuracy, visibility and predictability. The results are a reduction in procedure, surgery and anesthesia time, which ultimately translates into a quicker and more comfortable recovery.

Cost
A PreXion3D Cone Beam CT scan is significantly less than a medical CT scan.

Time
Because we have a PreXion3D scanner in our office, you can avoid an extra visit to a radiology
center or hospital. Plus, it does not require multiple consultation appointments; most
treatment plans can be done in one visit.

Comfort
Unlike more invasive x-ray machines, the PreXion3D scanner allows you to sit comfortably upright in an
open air environment. Plus, a PreXion3D scan can take less than 9 seconds for a scan, as opposed to a
regular CT scanner which can take much longer. The PreXion3D scan is completely painless and
can dramatically reduce x-ray radiation exposure when compared to normal CT scanners and some
older traditional dental x-ray machines.

Comparative Superiority
Traditional 2D Panoramic and other dental x-rays are limited when compared to 3D images that can
show different angles and planes, allowing us to view any part of your anatomy from any direction or angle.

This investment in high quality diagnostic imaging reflects our commitment to providing the best possible care for you and your family! Call us today at 703-352-2010 for an appointment.

In our hygiene department we assess, treat and impact our patients every time we see them. Our assessments include but are not limited to:
• Radiographs
• Visual Inspection, smiles, carries, saliva flow, health history reviews
• Oral DNA, and other tests, or periodontal risk assessments
• Routine oral prophylaxis and periodontal maintenance visits.
• Cambra
We always look for any weaknesses indicating a compromise of complete oral health. For patients who have had cosmetic work, we look especially for re-occurring decay at the junctions of the veneers or crowns and the natural tooth surfaces. We also check the junction of composite material with the natural tooth structure.
CAMBRA:
What is CAMBRA? CAMBRA is “carries management by risk assessment.” Carries is an infectious transmissible disease process where a complex carriogenic biofilm, in the presence of an oral environment that is more pathological than protective, leads to the demineralization and eventual cavitation of the dental hard tissue.

For those of you who have had the joy of extensive dental work, you are familiar with what a crown looks like. They are essentially caps that are placed over your teeth and are a sort of “last resort” for a tooth that has too much damage for a normal filling to fix. In your father’s day, technology was such that these special tooth caps had to be made of metal with a simple porcelain overlay to mimic the look of a normal and real tooth. But the metal underneath caused the crown’s look to worsen considerably over time.

Some of you may have this type of crown or have seen it in others. The aging of the crown can be seen even just while talking as metal is exposed at the gum line or in the way the color or stain of your crowned tooth just doesn’t match the rest.

But the dark ages are over and no one needs to know which of your teeth have crowns just by casting a glance. New technology is now available. Cosmetic dentists can now offer you all porcelain or all acrylic crowns. These crowns do a much better job of being inconspicuous among the rest of your teeth and give off a much more natural look.

If you are interested in replacing your old crowns or are in need of crowns for the first time, contact us at Rye Smiles for Life by calling (703) 352-2010 to find out if all-porcelain crowns can be a good fit.

Many people fear their semi-yearly trips to the dentist. The prospect of a cavity and the dreaded reality of a filling weigh heavily on many minds. Add in the possible need for a crown or veneer to repair damaged teeth, the dental visit quickly goes to the bottom of the “to do” list.

Thankfully, innovation in dentistry has made tooth restoration easier, more convenient, more accurate and overall less worrisome for patients. Our office uses CEREC® equipment, which provides for on-site creation of natural-looking ceramic fillings – in a single visit. We use a digital camera to take an optical impression of the damaged tooth, design the appropriate restoration using CAD software and mill tooth-colored ceramic on-site in about 10 minutes. There’s no need for a temporary and return visit. From tooth preparation to placement and bonding, a patient can have his or her smile restored in less than an hour.

CEREC is a shining example of recent advances in the dental profession and we at Rye Smiles for Life are proud to be among the first in the metropolitan Washington, DC area to offer patients this new approach to tooth restoration. Contact us at Rye Smiles for Life and find out how this new dental technology can improve your smile and your life today.

Technology today is changing our everyday lives. Many people, however, aren’t aware that technology also is impacting dentistry in new and exciting ways. Cutting-edge innovations in dental instruments are requiring less time in the dental chair, causing less discomfort and creating satisfying results. One breakthrough instrument, called CEREC®, allows dentists to quickly restore damaged teeth with natural-colored ceramic fillings, saving patients time and inconvenience.

What is CEREC?
CEREC is an acronym for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics. Translated, it means that a dentist can economically restore damaged teeth in a single appointment using a high-quality ceramic material that matches the natural color of other teeth.

How does the instrument work?
CEREC uses CAD/CAM (Computer Aided Design/Computer Aided Manufacturing) technology, incorporating a camera, computer and milling machine in one instrument. The dentist uses a special camera to take an accurate picture of the damaged tooth. This optical impression is transferred and displayed on a color computer screen, where the dentist uses CAD technology to design the restoration. Then CAM takes over and automatically creates the restoration while the patient waits. Finally, the dentist bonds the new restoration to the surface of the old tooth. The whole process takes about one hour.

What does this innovation mean for a patient?
A tooth-colored restoration means no more silver fillings discoloring smiles. The filling is natural-looking, compatible with tissue in the mouth, anti-abrasive and plaque-resistant. Dentists no longer need to create temporaries or take impressions and send them to a lab. Because of this, the traditional second visit has been eliminated. CEREC has two decades of clinical research and documentation to support the technology. The restorations have been proven precise, safe and effective.

How can I find out if this is an option for me?
Contact us at Rye Smiles for Life. We will be happy to answer your questions on this new technology.

There has been a paradigm shift in the way we treat dental decay. In the past, we only treated the symptoms of decay (a cavity) but not the cause. With MI paste, we can do both!

The cause of decay is the bacteria in acidic saliva. Several things can promote a low ph in the saliva, diet being the most common. There are over 600 medications which can also affect our saliva, leaving it acidic and a threat to our pearly whites. Aging can also be a factor in salivary acidity. MI Paste is 100% calcium phosphate with 100% bioavailability, meaning we use every bit of it. It is basically milk protein(casein) in a tube. Calcium phosphate balances out an acidic mouth, preventing cavities, reducing sensitivity, decreasing the appearance of white spots on the enamel (orthodontic patients), improving the shine and luster of the tooth and having a natural lightening effect. MI paste is used nightly because that is when the ph of our mouth drops to the lowest.

By supplementing the saliva with calcium phosphate, you can remineralize (strengthen) the deep layers of the tooth much like your daily and professional fluoride applications will remineralize the more shallow layers of the enamel. The two work together as a team.
The next time you visit the dentist, ask about whether you would benefit from the use of MI paste to keep your mouth as healthy as it can be.

If you have any questions about MI paste and whether it can help your oral health, please contact us.

The Surgeon General Report, Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General, notes that “a person is not healthy without good oral health” Absolutely. That is why we ensure that our patients have healthy mouths. We also take advantage of the latest innovations and technological advancements to detect and enable early treatment of a variety of health threats. Prior to 2001 dentistry had no early detection devices. We now do. In-office microbiological testing for decay bacteria identifies periodontal disease pathogens. In-office DNA testing is available for identification of periodontal disease risks and HPV. In-office saliva testing to check the ph, flow and buffering capabilities of the saliva.

An important technological development in the oral health field is the VELscope and Vizilite which use a fluorescent illumination to detect precancerous lesions. Oral cancer is more common than leukemia, skin melanoma, Hodgkins disease, cancers of the brain, liver, bone, thyroid gland, stomach, ovaries and cervix, and has the worst 5 year survival rate among common cancers Cancer survival is dependent on early detection, and part of the reason for oral cancer low survival rates has been late detection: 70% of oral cancer lesions found during a visual exam ALONE are detected in stage III or IV, and one out of four with oral cancer do not have any of the risk factors for cancer. The VELscope technology is safe, inexpensive, and painless.

The next time you visit the dentist, ask about diagnostic testing for early detection of threats to your health. If you have any questions about how technology can help you with early detection, please contact us.

I am pleased to announce that both Annie and Lou were selected to participate in the prestigious JP Institute’s Registered Dental Hygienist Mastership program in San Diego. The JP Institute’s rigorous interactive hands-on Mastership curriculum embraces research and technological advances to go beyond the concepts of conventional dental care to achieve excellence. Beyond treating disease, the JP Institute teaches the evidence based science objectives for periodontal, restorative and aesthetic care. For three full days, Annie and Lou participated in intense workshops designed to help them elevate their practice of Dental Hygiene to new levels applying leading edge technology and techniques. The classes were a comprehensive review of the dental sciences with relationship to real time dental hygiene practice. Annie and Lou experimented with the newest instruments available to enhance patient health, comfort and technology into our practice. They will return to San Diego in February for two more days of workshops designed to help them integrate the concepts they have learned about in our office. The extraordinary time and effort Annie and Lou have taken to complete this course is testimony to their devotion to our patients. When they complete the certification with written testing and actual clinical proficiency they will be awarded Masterships in Dental Hygiene! I am very proud to be working with such accomplished professionals.
The next time you visit Ryesmilesforlife, feel free to congratulate Lou and Annie on their professional accomplishment!