Technology

Before we carry out any dental treatments, we ensure there are no problems in your TMJ or Jaw joint. JVA is 90-95% accurate in diagnosing dysfunction in jaw joints.
Human joints have surfaces, which rub together in function.

Smooth, well-lubricated surfaces in a proper biomechanical relationship produce little friction and little vibration. However, surface changes such as those caused by degeneration, tears, or displacements of the disk, generally produce friction and vibration. Different disorders can produce different vibration patterns or “signatures”.

PC-assisted vibration analyses helps identify these patterns and helps to distinguish various TM disorders. Understanding your current TMJ function is crucial for appropriate treatment planning.

JT-3D computerised three dimensional tracking of jaw movement

At Smile Dynamics in East Wahroonga, we use computerised Mandibular tracking or a ‘Jaw tracker’ to diagnose jaw joint and movement irregularities. Your jaw opens and closes about 2000 times a day.

Therefore, the position of your lower jaw must fit tightly into the frame of your upper jaw. If they do not fit together correctly, the muscles must use excessive force to pull the jaws together. This can lead to broken teeth, headaches, sore jaws and TMJ dysfunction.

If extensive restorations are carried out without considering the closing path of the lower jaw then problems can recur in the future.

EMG equipment is used to measure the electrical activity of muscles when your treatment has been completed to ensure all your dental treatment is correct for you and functioning ideally.

Sensors placed on your skin directly above the muscles being monitored detect the small electric signal, which comes from active muscles.

The strength and pattern of the signal is seen on a computer screen and the data is collected in a software program that is able to run various analyses of the data to create useful reports regarding muscle function.

Computer analysis of tooth contacts

Computer-aided diagnosis of occlusal disorders and design of dental restorations requires a computerised evaluation of jaw occlusion and chewing ability.

This aspect of dental care is commonly overlooked; ‘occlusion’ meaning how your teeth fit together. When you close your mouth, all of your teeth should ideally fit together. When one tooth hits before the others, if feels ‘higher’ and can lead to tooth breakdown and pain. Here at Smile Dynamics in East Wahroonga, we use computerised occlusal analysis called a T-scan. It is a computerised sensor that measures the timing and forces of your bite and is used in fine tuning tooth contacts.

This requires simulation of the motion of your jaws and characterisation of contacts between the surfaces of teeth. We propose approaches to evaluation of the load on teeth and of the grinding process. These characteristics are derived in interactive time, and are based on distance maps and topological structure of the contact zones.
The proposed approaches are general and usable in applications where modelling of contact between objects with complex geometry is required.

Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulator (TENS) is a non-invasive muscle stimulator used to deliver gentle electrical stimulation pulse approximately 40 times per minute to help relax tense muscles and is often used to treat patients with TMJ Dysfunction.

When muscles are tense they restrict blood flow, as these muscles are exercised by the TENS electrical stimulation, they begin to relax and thus reduce the patients discomfort as the blood flow to those muscles increases.

Knowing what is happening below your gums enables the Smile Dynamics in East Wahroonga team to make an exact diagnosis and develop the most suitable treatment plan.

Gum disease, oral cancer, cysts, abscesses, and the early development of tooth decay as well as a loss in jawbone density due to periodontal disease are some of the conditions able to be detected through digital x-rays, which may not be seen during routine examinations until they have reached an advanced stage.

Digital x-rays are efficient and emit up to 80% less radiation than traditional x-rays, which also require film and chemical processing. They can be stored electronically and emailed to specialists to whom you may be referred for more complex procedures.

Digital x-rays also help us monitor your treatment progress. How often you will need to have updated digital x-rays will be dependent on your personal needs and diagnosis of your current oral health.

Diode lasers can be used for a number of applications in dentistry today. For example, treating mouth or apthous ulcers, disinfecting gum pockets, frenectomies, gum recontouring and cosmetic gum lift procedures.

Using a laser to perform these procedures often avoids more aggressive surgery and anaesthetic procedures with the additional benefit of very rapid healing of the treated area.

An intra-oral camera is a highly advanced piece of diagnostic equipment that enables you to see on a monitor what we see during your examination. This allows us to point out areas of concern and explain in more detail exactly what needs to be done, such as restoring worn or broken fillings, cracked teeth, plaque build-up, cavities next to fillings and excessive tooth wear. This provides you with a better understanding of your current oral health.

The intra-oral camera handpiece has a built-in light source and a miniature video camera with a 25 times zoom magnification.