Digital diagnostics at Essex Family Dental
Here at Essex Family Dental, we’ve invested in the latest digital scanning technology to achieve the most accurate dental diagnostics. With a dental scanner, an intra-oral camera and Cone Beam Computed Tomography scan (CBCT) technology all available, our dentists can take a highly accurate 3D digital impression of your teeth without the need for a physical mould and, in the same appointment, discuss any issues and plot your treatment plan.
The more you understand about your teeth, gums and bones the better you will be at keeping your dental routine on track. Think of digital diagnostics as a personal MOT for your teeth and gums, checking what’s needed to get them fit and healthy!
If you’d like to see your teeth in 3D, book in a digital diagnostics consultation today.
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What’s the difference between digital diagnostics and a traditional x-ray?
If you’ve ever had an x-ray at our dental practices before, you’ll know that they’re extremely useful in helping to identify issues within the teeth, such as cavities.
Which digital diagnostic technologies are available at Essex Family Dental?
At Essex Family Dental, we have a couple of different technologies available to our independent customers:
- Intraoral scanner and camera, which are ideal for creating digital 3D models to monitor your oral health and digitally design your restorative or orthodontic treatments, such as teeth straightening, veneers, crowns or dentures.
- Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scanner, which is better suited to providing 3D images of the whole head, jaw and oral region, including bone and soft tissues. This is top of the range technology used for diagnostic and treatment planning purposes.
What are the benefits of using digital diagnostics as part of my dental treatment plan?
There are so many benefits to you, as a patient, of using digital diagnostic technologies as part of your treatment pathway at Essex Family Dental:
- Digital diagnostics allow you to have a completely bespoke treatment plan, personalised to every detail of your teeth and gums, with the possibility of digitally designing your smile.
- They give you full control of your bespoke treatment plan, enabling you to see what the dentist sees and get a full, detailed and incredibly accurate visualisation of your recommended treatments and digital smile design.
Where are digital scans available?
This treatment is available at the following practice locations:
How much does a digital scan and consultation cost?
Digital intraoral scans are complementary for independent patients as part of their initial check-up cost (and not available for NHS patients). Digital intraoral scans are also included as part of our dental treatment prices for Invisalign, smile makeovers, implants etc., so there shouldn’t be a fee if you're having a private treatment with us – it’s simply one of the great benefits of being a member of a digital independent practice. To put this into context, as a stand-alone scanning service, some practices charge £200 for a digital intraoral 3D scan.
If you would like to have a digital scan without any associated treatments, a stand-alone CBCT 3D scan at Essex Family Dental costs £185 per arch and £100 for radiology reporting. A 2D panoramic x-ray costs £55.
If you are interested in any digital scan please speak to your dentist or our treatment coordination team directly.
Don’t settle for second best. Book your independent check-up today and speak to your dentist about how you can achieve your goals with digital diagnostics.
Have you thought about?
A smile makeover with dental cosmetic treatments such as teeth straightening, composite bonding, teeth whitening and implants.
Composite bonding
If you’ve been dreaming of the perfect smile but don’t want to undergo any permanent procedures that involve removal of part of the tooth, then composite bonding might be the best solution to bring out the best in your smile. Composite bonding is a non-invasive tooth restoration treatment that changes the shape and colour of your teeth through the application of a tooth-coloured resin onto the tooth’s natural surface, whilst also protecting the integrity of your natural teeth.
Implants
A dental implant is a small titanium post that replaces the root of a missing tooth. Once placed in the jawbone, it supports a colour-matched porcelain crown to seamlessly fill the gap. Implants offer a strong, long-lasting and natural-looking solution that restores both the appearance and function of your smile.
Teeth straightening
Straightening crooked or misaligned teeth can transform your smile, give you confidence and help you be the best version of you. If you’re dissatisfied with your smile, you’ll be pleased to know that straightening your teeth is not only extremely achievable and affordable but also brings very reliable results, whether your goal is to straighten wonky teeth, reduce overcrowding, remedy an incorrect bite or fix jaw misalignment. Multiple teeth straightening options are available at Essex Family Dental such as clear aligners, lingual braces, clear ceramic braces or traditional orthodontics, which means you can choose the treatment option that best suits you, your needs and your lifestyle.
Teeth whitening
Teeth get stained over time, so teeth whitening is a good way to restore the natural whiteness that may have been dulled by red wine, tea or coffee. Our at-home whitening kits will give you reliable results quickly and will bring the brilliance back to your smile or, alternatively, you can opt for teeth whitening strips.
Frequently asked questions about digital diagnostics
Yes. It is safe to have a digital scan with an intraoral scanner as it doesn’t use any radiation. A digital scanner simply uses light or other harmless technology to take detailed images of your teeth and gums.
Whilst CBCT scans do use more radiation than a regular dental x-ray, they use far less than you would be exposed to with a standard CT scan at the hospital or even on a long-haul flight! Such a low amount of radiation is unlikely to cause any long-term harm but your dentist may advise against a CBCT scan for pregnant patients. Either way, CBCT scans are quick and entirely painless.
