This page is from the old pakurangadental.co.nz site and now reflects my history with technology.  For an update to our current equipment, see the “Latest News” page.

Computers

Our practice has been fully computerised since 1987.  The benefit of this includes simpler day to day procedures so our people can concentrate on patient related matters.  Charting your treatment on computer means that providing a printed estimate on cost is a click away.  With drag and drop we can organise your treatment so that it proceeds logically and involves as few visits as possible.  Because our appointment book is on computer, it is available to reception and all surgeries at the same time.  Dentist and patient can easily choose the optimum time to schedule the necessary appointments while reception can be scheduling appointments for other patients by phone or at the front desk.

With computers in surgery, Powerpoint presentations help explain procedures and assist communication with our patients.  Connection to the internet allows us access to many online resources from ordering components for your implants and downloading the brochures on the latest implant techniques, to obtaining information on any medicines you may be taking so that we may check for potential drug interactions.  We also use email to send referral information and x-rays to specialists.  These documents and your post treatment reports from specialists are stored on your computer file.  They are easily retrieved in one or two clicks in the surgery, when compared to searching through paper files in the office, while you wait.

We backup our data daily and therefore have multiple copies of patient records in case of fire or other disaster.

Intra Oral Cameras

The ability to see in detail, inside one’s mouth facilitates a person’s understanding of their dental health or any current issue.  This understanding enables our patients to make informed decisions and take action to improve dental health. This tool is invaluable when providing oral hygiene instruction.  Patients can see the difference between areas that they clean well and those they don’t.  Photos can be saved for comparison at a later date. 

Digital X-rays

Instead of exposing a film and developing this to get an image, we expose onto a sensor to create an image on our computer screen.  The sensor requires 90% less radiation to produce an image so our patients are exposed to less radiation.  The image is produced in 2 seconds.  The image produced is larger than the usual x-ray film and is therefore easier to read.  The software supplied also allows us to enhance the image as necessary to aid diagnosis and patient communication.  The image is stored immediately so the dental assistant is free to assist immediately.  There is no risk or x-rays being lost or filed incorrectly.  We can retrieve your previous x-rays in a few clicks, compared to going out and searching through a drawer full of x-rays.  Data is backed up off site so we will not lose your records in event of fire or other disaster.

                               

Other Technology

We also use a host of other less obvious technology to provide a better service to our patients. Some examples include:

Panoramic X-Ray

This big x-ray enables us to see all your teeth and jaws on one film.  This is good for looking at wisdom teeth and checking for impacted or unerupted teeth in children.

Rotary NiTi Files and Electronic Apex locaters

These more flexible files enable us to clean curved root canals more effectively and enable us to achieve more consistent results with our root fillings.  The files work in special drills which operate at set rpm and torque to suit the characteristics of the files.  This is also more comfortable for the patient than hand filing.  Electronic apex locaters measure the length of each root so we prepare them to the appropriate length. “