TOP 10 NEW TECHNOLOGIES IN DENTISTRY

The field of dentistry is constantly evolving and changing to best suit patient needs. 123 Dentist is always on the lookout for new and emerging technology to make our patients’ experience as comfortable as possible. Here is just a few of the different technologies that 123 Dentist practices use to ensure we provide world-class service to all our patients:

1. VELscope—VELscope is a special type of light that a dentist will shine in a patient’s mouth to detect any abnormalities. This new form of technology is effectively used to detect early forms of cancer or disease during an oral cancer screening.

2. Digital X-Rays—Digital X-rays are faster and contain less radiation than traditional X-rays. When a patient has a digital X-ray done, the image appears on the computer in a matter of seconds. Your dentist can then zoom into the image to better assess and educate the patient regarding their oral health. Digital X-rays are also less harmful for patients as they contain up to 90% less radiation compared to traditional X-rays.

3. Invisalign—Invisalign are clear, practically invisible braces that can gently straighten your teeth. They provide an effective and comfortable way to straighten your smile without the inconvenience of wearing heavy, metal braces. Invisalign braces are easy to take out for cleaning and don’t require a restriction on what type of foods to eat. They get the job done in less time with less hassle.

4. Laser Dentistry—Lasers are used to improve efficiency and eliminate discomfort in a number dental procedures, including filling cavities, reducing tooth sensitivity, getting rid of tumors, and whitening. Laser dentistry is fast, painless, and can effectively eliminate any form of bacteria during the procedure to avoid any further complications or problems.

5. Dental Implants—Dental implants are screw-replacements for the root portion of missing teeth. Implants are used to restore healthy smiles when patients have missing teeth. Implants are effective because they can replace missing teeth, while still giving the patient the feel and look of a natural tooth.

6. HealOzone—HealOzone is a fast, easy and painless way to eliminate tooth decay. HealOzone is effective because it contains ozone (O3), which is a common, natural gas that effectively kills bacteria and fungus. HealOzone is a great tool to detect and get rid of any early signs of tooth decay before it progresses to a more advanced stage.

7. DIAGNOdent— DIAGNOdent is a new, state of the art device that dentists use to detect cavities that are hiding in places regular x-rays can’t find. It ensures that your mouth has been thoroughly checked for early signs of cavities to avoid you having to spend more in the future if the cavities progress and expand.

8. Intraoral Camera—The intraoral camera is a tool that dentists use to gain precise and well-defined pictures of hard to see places within a patient’s mouth. The camera also allows dentist to show these images to patients while assessing and educating the patient’s needs. This new form of technology allows dentist to conduct a thorough checkup of your mouth and better assess their patient’s oral care needs.

9. Zoom! Whitening—Zoom! Whitening is a new, state of the art whitening treatment that gives our patients fast and easy results. In just one appointment, Zoom! Whitening can make a significant change in a person’s smile and can make their teeth up to eight shades whiter.

10. Nitrous Oxide and (Intravenous) IV Sedation—Nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, can calm a patient down to a point that they are relaxed but can still interact with their dentist. On the other hand, IV sedation puts a patient to sleep completely so that they are unaware of what happened during their dental session. This is usually recommended for patients who are fearful of going to the dentist or for procedures that are painful such as wisdom teeth extraction.

TIPS ON HOW TO SURVIVE MEDICAL COURSES.

Medical school is not as scary as you imagine it to be.

Medics are notorious for becoming very close knit. This is for good reason: as your work and routine become more stressful it is important to be able to talk to people in a similar position.

Don't worry about forging these friendships on day one, they do just happen. Medical schools understand how important it is for students to bond and the school will have a medical society (MedSoc). This is run by students who organise events, sports teams and nights out to help everyone to get to know each other. These nights out are helpful at first to help you get over any awkward conversations in lectures.

Have a balance network.

Saying this, don't underestimate the importance of having non-medic friends. Life in medical school can be intense at times. Remember, there is a world outside of cadavers and pathology and at times you will really want a slice of it.

You've put other interests on your personal statement so make sure you put them into practice – get involved in as many activities and societies as possible and keep your interests broad. A successful doctor is one that has an understanding of the big wide world.

Take the workload in bite sized chunks.

What is expected of you in terms of behaviour and volume of work is different to other students. Turning up hungover to dissection is horrible, and while it is OK to miss the odd lecture, you'll find the pace of teaching is fast and the topic moves on quickly.

A doctor should be well rounded, personable and able to cope with stress. Find the time to go over anything you are unsure about and ask others for help.You're expected to be able to juggle a lot of different elements at the same time and this takes a level of maturity and time management. Saying this, you don't have to be hidden away in the library all the time.

If you're struggling, then someone else definitely will be, so support one another. Be generous with your time as there will definitely be times when you need to rely on others.

Appreciate opportunities given and keep an open mind.

Throughout medical school you will meet a huge range of people. Remember it is all part of the experience and try to learn from everyone you meet. Seeing and doing as much as possible will enrich your time as a medical student.

You may have your heart set on a speciality now, but most medical students change their mind as they progress. You don't want to miss out on opportunities by being blinkered to one field.

One of the best opportunities at medical school is anatomy classes with cadavers, so do make the most of the opportunity. Dissection is an asset to your learning and although it can be information overload at times, it does get easier.

It can be surreal at times, but you do get used to it (and the smell). It seems to be true – the smell of formaldehyde does make you hungry. And there's no shame in a post-anatomy pub lunch.

And lastly, enjoy yourself. Make sure you don't burn out: you've worked incredibly hard to get to where you are but it is important to look back on your time as a student doctor with fond memories.

3 MAIN USES OF COMPUTERS IN MEDICAL FIELD

1- Patient Monitoring
    
Different electronic scanning devices (medical equipment) are used in hospitals. They are connected with computers. These devices are used to monitor the patient continuously. Thus computers are normally used in the following medical units of hospitals for monitoring patients.

• ICU (Intensive Care Unit)
• Operation Theater
• Recovery Room
• Medical Ward
• ECG (Electrocardiograph)

The medical equipment with sensors is attached to the patient. It detects changes in heart rate, pulse rate, blood pressure, breathing and brain activity. If any unbalancing situation occurs, computer activates the alarming device, which creates sound and alerts the medical staff.

2- Maintaining Patient History & Other Records
    The complete bio-data as well as medical history of a patient is recorded into the computer. The medical history is delivered to the related doctor for the check up of the patient. In this way, much of the doctor's time is saved.

In addition to patient history, other information about doctors, medicines, and medical equipments is also maintained through computers. These information can be retrieved very easily and quickly.

3- Diagnosis
    Computer is also used in hospitals for diagnosing diseases. Different medical tests depend upon the computerized devices such as laboratory test of blood.

One common use of computer in hospitals is to scan the body of patient. A special scanner is used for this purpose. For example, the CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) scanner passes rays over the patient. It displays an image of bone and tissue structure of patient on a computer screen. This image is printed on the printer. It is also store in computer for later use.

USE OF COMPUTERS IN MEDICAL FIELD

Computers in the Medical Office

In most medical offices, accounting is also computerized, which helps in maintaining a daily record of all the financial transactions carried out. It also reduces the chances of money related frauds, as all the data is stored properly, and is readily available for future reference. A computer also helps in recording the names and contact details of the doctors and associated people, which is useful when it comes to recording the medical history of patients, such as previous treatments, tests, diagnosis, symptoms, etc. Such information comes in handy to the doctors, especially in the case of medical emergencies, or when a new treatment is to be designed. Many doctors, nowadays, also use computers to provide online counseling to patients who are unable to visit the hospital. Last but not the least, medical bills too are computer-generated, and hence, the chances of miscalculation are reduced, and availing online transaction facilities is also possible.

Computers in Medical Research

The use of computers is also associated with research and inventions in the health sector. Various research studies are better carried out by using them. For example, studying certain cells, microorganisms, bacteria, etc., becomes easier by using computers. They allow one to save all the related information, which can later be referred to whenever required. One can also create electronic presentations of various diseases or treatments, which can be used to train junior or trainee doctors for small and uncomplicated operations. They can also be used for web conferencing, wherein, senior doctors can oversee and guide a medical procedure.

For seminars and paper presentations on health related topics, computerized presentations create more of an impact on the audience, and also help them understand the issues better. With computer networking, doctors across the world can communicate with each other about new inventions, discoveries, unique health conditions, etc. Today, many countries across the globe are conducting individual research studies. The information collected by them can be mutually shared by the medical fraternity with the help of computers and Internet technology.

Computers in Medical Procedures

Computers in the hospital also play a vital role for numerous specific purposes, apart from administration, accounting, billing, and appointments. They literally help doctors in performing surgeries, especially laparoscopic surgeries, where they insert operation tools and a small camera through a small incision made at the location of the surgery, and perform the operation with computers and monitors to guide them.

Many high-tech surgical machines and instruments are endowed with small, yet powerful computer systems, so that every surgical procedure can be recorded and monitored to avoid any complications. Many clinical imaging processes, such as X-rays and CT scans, etc., are conducted and examined with the help of computers. They also help in conducting various clinical and biological laboratory tests which are useful for the correct diagnosis of different diseases.

It is virtually impossible for humans to note down every reading of the internal organs of the patients, which computers can do with ease. Hence, many critical patients, whose heart rate, lung movement, brain readings, etc., need be recorded, are monitored continuously using computers. Patients who need to be provided with life-support are put on special computerized systems.

Thus, computers have become an inseparable part of the medical field. They greatly improve the accuracy and efficiency of various medical procedures, and even help in important administrative and accounting related activities. Running the health sector today without the help of computers is simply unthinkable.