Advanced Dental Technology 

In order to create beautiful, healthy smiles, The Dental Office of Robert R. Hawley, DDS, FACP combines the experience and expertise of our staff with the precision of the finest technology in the dental industry. We couldn’t take on the various dental services we provide without the use of trusted equipment and advanced dental technology. This includes some of the most innovative procedures known to modern dentistry. 

Our in-house technology and equipment are used to provide advanced dental care, including lab work and in-house surgery. This technology allows us to complete each procedure successfully and allows us to make new advancements in our field. Learn more about the technology and advanced procedures we rely on by reading below. 

When treating dental issues, there are many problems that cannot be spotted by the naked eye. That’s where digital x-rays come in. We use digital x-ray technology to capture a complete image of the inside of patients’ mouths. Digital x-rays are different from the x-ray film pictures you may be used to. Digital x-rays use far less radiation and display a clear image immediately on a computer screen. Digital x-rays make it easier for our team to identify issues inside your mouth and save, store, and share the images captured. 

Computerized (or computed) tomography may be better known to most people as CT. When digital x-rays don’t give us a clear answer, a CT scan may be used. We utilize a dental cone beam computed tomography machine to take 3D images of your teeth as well as the tissues, nerves, and bones in your mouth. These 3D images are needed for procedures such as implants and wisdom teeth removal to more clearly see what we’re working with and to make sure our dentists don’t harm your soft tissues and nerve paths during a procedure. 

Not every dentist office provides in-house dental implant placement, but we do. Our office has all the technology necessary for dental implant placement done right on site. Our technology allows for implants to be more easily inserted and fastened into your jaw. Our dental implant technology allows patients to avoid having to go through a bone grafting procedure when having implants placed. 

The Dental Office of Robert R. Hawley, DDS, FACP has patient education software available for use that helps patients gain a better understanding of dental conditions they may have and the treatments that they may seek. We want our patients to know as much as possible about what’s happening with their teeth and oral health. The more you understand, the easier it is for us to treat you. Contact us to ask about the patient education software we have available to use. 

Panoramic x-rays are common in dental offices all over the world, including ours. We utilize our panoramic x-ray machine to take a two-dimensional image of your entire mouth. This will allow our team to develop a greater understanding of what is happening inside your mouth and how we can best treat you. Panoramic x-rays use a small burst of radiation sent through your body to record the image to digital files. One of our staff members will complete the procedure by carefully placing your head into the x-ray machine and adjusting it for your height before placing a bite-blocker in your mouth. The machine will then be turned on and will rotate around your head in a semicircle, capturing the images we need. 

To help get things moving more quickly and efficiently, we utilize electronic claims processing to submit dental claims electronically to your insurance company. With the simple use of electronic claims, all we have to do is press send and your claim will be transferred to the insurance company in a manner of seconds. With electronic claims, there’s less likelihood of a misunderstanding or mistake with the claim and virtually no chance of the claim being lost. 

The Dental Office of Robert R. Hawley, DDS, FACP utilizes advanced x-ray machines to capture images of your mouth from the outside. There is a way we can also capture images on the inside of your mouth. Our office uses an intraoral camera that can be placed into your mouth to capture images of your teeth from the inside. The images can be taken and downloaded instantly, so our dentists can see the results right away and share them with you while you are sitting there in the dental chair. Intraoral cameras make it easier for our team to diagnose and treat patients instantly. 

The Dental Office of Robert R. Hawley, DDS, FACP uses an oral cancer screening device to handle this necessary preventative screening. Oral cancer screenings typically are done via a visual check. Dr. Hawley will conduct this as well, but to get the full picture, he will use the small screening device to spot problems he may not be able to detect with his eyes. The device will alert us to abnormalities in hard-to-spot areas of the gums, cheeks, or tongue. Early detection is key to stopping oral cancer before it spreads. Our oral cancer screening device provides the full detection capabilities we need. 

In order to plan for an upcoming implant procedure, Dr. Hawley and his team will use virtual computer software to visualize what needs to be done and create a digital plan for success. We will first take digital, 3D images of the patient’s mouth and jaw to help us visualize what we’ll be working with. From there, we can craft a digital plan using this software and the 3D images we have to work with. Dr. Hawley will be able to see in close detail where he will have to insert the implants and what obstacles he might have to deal with.