Advanced Dental Technologies

Create a Healthy, Beautiful Smile Quickly & Comfortably

The world is advancing faster and faster these days, and fortunately, that progress has also touched modern-day dentistry. Dr. Langston and his team are proud to use the latest in advanced dental services and technology in Sunnyvale, TX to improve the treatment as well as the experience they can offer their patients. It is just one of the many ways we have distinguished ourselves from other dental offices. 



Intraoral Cameras

Have you ever been confused by what your dentist is trying to tell you? Explaining what is going on in your mouth can be difficult, but we make things nice and easy by showing you everything with our intraoral camera. This small device fits easily into the mouth to capture highly-detailed images of the teeth and gums. We can display them on a nearby monitor to show you any potential problem areas and discuss possible treatments so you and our team are always on the same page concerning your dental health.


All-Digital X-Rays

One big concern that people bring up with us involves the radiation emitted by dental X-rays, but we’re happy to tell patients they have nothing to worry about. We upgraded to digital radiography years ago, which in addition to being faster and having higher-quality images than traditional film, the process also produces 80-90% less radiation, which is great news for both our patients as well as our team!


Soft Tissue Laser

Gum treatment has never been faster or more comfortable thanks to our soft tissue laser. Instead of removing infected tissue using a scalpel or recontouring the gum line with incisions, we can use a highly concentrated beam of light to painlessly accomplish both. The laser is extremely precise and accurate, and because it cauterizes nerve-endings and seals blood vessels as it works, most patients barely feel anything both during and after a procedure.


UV Sanitation


Ultraviolet (UV) light has a unique ability to break down chemical bonds in living cells, including viruses, bacteria, and mold. It is particularly effective at destroying coronaviruses, including the one that causes COVID-19. Dr. Langston has invested in a UV sanitation device from Larson Electronics to help our office remain as clean and sanitary as possible. This commercial-grade technology provides safe, efficient, and chemical-free sanitation as it kills more than 99 percent of potential contagions.

How Does UV Light Sanitation Work?

You might have heard a lot about the ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun, which is what is responsible for causing suntans and sunburns. It does this as it breaks down chemical bonds in living cells. While that might sound a little alarming, UV light’s ability to break down those chemical bonds is a good thing when it comes to sanitation. The light destroys the structure of many types of viruses and bacteria, greatly reducing the number of potential contagions on any surface the light reaches.

UV light is particularly effective against coronaviruses, including the one that causes COVID-19. Coronaviruses are surrounded by a delicate layer of lipids (fats). The UV light disrupts that layer, causing the virus to degrade and die.

UV Sanitation in Our Office

UV light has been used in medical settings for many years, but recently, more and more dentists are investing in the equipment. In Dr. Langston’s holistic practice, we use a portable UV-emitting device from Larson Electronics. As its lamps emit UV-C light, more than 99 percent of viruses, bacteria, mold, and other organic particles in the area are killed. We utilize this state-of-the-art sanitation equipment after every aerosol-producing procedure.

Additional advantages of this device include:

  • It sanitizes up to 1,200 square feet. Its broad range makes it an extremely efficient way to sanitize our dental office.
  • It provides chemical-free sanitation, which is a huge benefit for patients who have chemical sensitivities or allergies.

Would you like to learn more about UV sanitation and how we are using it to maintain a safe and clean dental practice? Contact us today so we can answer all of your questions.


CBCT Scanner

X-rays have been an essential tool in dentistry for generations when it comes to both diagnosis and treatment. Our CBCT scanner (which stands for “cone-beam computer tomography”) is a more sophisticated kind of X-ray than the ones you typically get at your standard checkup and provides us much more information we can use to help you.

The CBCT scanner can do one thing standard X-rays cannot: it can create a fully 3D image of your teeth and mouth. This makes it much easier for Dr. Langston to see what might be causing your problems and enables him to come up with much better treatment plans. CBCT scanners can help us plan everything from orthodontic treatment to oral surgery.


Pharyngometry & Rhinometry

Sleep apnea is a very serious sleep disorder that causes a person to stop breathing during the night. It can be caused by a multitude of factors and can lead many people to have serious long-term health issues. As you can imagine, it can be very difficult for a person to figure out if they have it on their own. We can help diagnose your sleep apnea using two approaches called pharyngometry and rhinometry.

Both of these methods are used to measure the quality of your airway. If it is compromised or restricted in any way, this could easily be the cause of your sleep apnea.

Pharyngometry implements the use of sound waves that map out the patient’s airway. A small device is placed in the mouth of the patient and sound waves are emitted while the patient breathes normally, allowing us to determine and visualize the shape of the airway. This test is repeated while the patient voluntarily restricts their airway, which allows us to recreate exactly what is occurring during the moment of collapse. The patient will then be fitted with an oral appliance. Repeating the process of collapsing the airway with the oral appliance at different positions, Dr. Langston can determine the optimal position of the patient's jaw. Once the sweet spot is found, we can fit them with an appliance that will expand the airway as much as possible,

For rhinometry, the process is largely the same, except it is used specifically to measure how you breathe through your nose. It will be able to detect anything that is causing congestion and can even reveal a deviated septum. Once again, Dr. Langston will use this to come up with a treatment plan so that you’ll be able to breathe better and sleep more comfortably. Both of these tools will allow him to help you in the exact way that you need, making a positive outcome much more likely.


Extraoral Chairside Suction

The very nature of dental procedures means that many bioaerosols, including saliva and blood droplets, as well as viruses and germs, can get released into the air. Extraoral suction captures potentially harmful substances and contributes to a cleaner dental office environment. Dr. Langston has invested in the AirJR extraoral chairside suction device. Its powerful fan and advanced filtration system enable it to stop 99.97 percent of viruses and germs.

The Importance of Extraoral Suction

Dentists commonly use intraoral suction to remove excess saliva and fluids during procedures. It is a staple in most dental offices. Extraoral suction is a bit different. As its name implies, it occurs outside the mouth. It is vital because when a dentist is working, many types of droplets and particles can get released into the air. For example, viruses, germs, tiny bits of saliva and blood, and more may spread throughout the operatory. Without suction, they could be breathed in, or they could land on the clothing of the dentist, assistants, or patient. Containing those substances is an important part of maintaining an environment that is as clean as possible.

 

How the AirJR Works

The AirJR is an FDA-approved chairside suction device that bears a resemblance to a lamp. Instead of providing light, however, it provides powerful suction that captures bioaerosols as they are released during treatment. It is able to stop 99.97 percent of germs and viruses. Some of the features that enable it to be so effective include:

  • High and low power settings
  • A double-layer HEPA filter
  • A plasma sterilizer
  • A medical-grade UV light disinfectant
  • A segmented arm that is easy for the dentist to adjust for maximum efficiency
 

How It Affects the Treatment Experience

The AirJR will not have a big impact on what you experience in the dental office. It will create some sound as its fan works to capture bioaerosols, but it should not affect your comfort while Dr. Langston carries out your treatment.

Would you like to learn more about the AirJR extraoral suction device? Contact Long Creek Dental today. We will be happy to answer your questions.



Electrostatic Disinfection

Electrostatic disinfection involves the use of a machine that positively charges the atoms in a chemical cleaning agent as it is sprayed. Because the atoms are positively charged, they wrap around the surfaces that they touch and get into narrow nooks and crevices. Therefore, electrostatic disinfection is much more thorough than trying to disinfect everything by hand. The electrostatic sprayer that we use in our office is the patented Victory Innovations Professional Cordless Electrostatic Sprayer.

 

What Is Electrostatic Disinfection?

With most disinfectants, they are applied by either spraying them onto a surface or are used to soak a towel or rag. On a microscopic level, this causes the disinfectant to miss many small nooks and crannies that could potentially harbor harmful bacteria and viruses. With electrostatic disinfection, the disinfectant is given a positive charge before it is applied. This enables it to spread more evenly on surfaces and reach areas that normally would be too small, leading to a deeper and more reliable clean.



HEPA Air Filtration

HEPA is an acronym that stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. Air purification systems with a HEPA designation are able to filter out at least 99.97 percent of particles that are 0.3 microns in size— that is the size most likely to sneak past other types of air filtration systems. HEPA filters accomplish this via a network of tiny, interlaced plastic or glass fibers that create a germ-trapping maze. They work alongside other mechanisms to ensure that the air in Dr. Langston’s office is as clean and safe as possible.

What Is a HEPA Air Filter?

HEPA stands for High-Efficiency Particulate Air. A HEPA filter uses a complex network of interlaced glass or plastic fibers to trap more than 99 percent of particles that measure 0.3 microns; that is the particle size that is likely to escape other types of air purification mechanisms. HEPA systems easily capture viruses, pollen, mold, bacteria, and other substances that pose a threat to human wellness.

The HEPA concept was first introduced during World War II. However, it has only become common for consumer usage since the 1980s. Many cars and vacuum cleaners contain HEPA filters, so it is only logical that medical and dental environments should also use this tried and true means of maintaining breathable, clean air. Our team regularly checks the HEPA filters in our office and changes them as frequently as necessary to ensure the continued freshness of our in-office air.

Would you like to learn more about the COVID-19 safety protocol in our office? Contact us today. We’ll be happy to answer all of your questions about how we are keeping our precious patients safe and healthy.


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