We strictly adhere to CDC guidelines for cleaning and disinfecting room surfaces. As we discuss in our blog, we use high powered hypochlorous acid surface for surface decontamination (which is an ideal clean-room disinfectant) and sterilizing UV light boxes for electronics and other devices that cannot be steam cleaned or immersed in water. We are, of course, using personal protective equipment, sterilizing and disinfecting patient-care items, and monitoring and managing our staff.

In addition, rest assured, our infection control protocols are in place. We clean and sterilize all work areas and operatories after treating every patient.

Did you know that Dr. Horowitz was the first dentist in the nation to publish a peer reviewed article on this subject? “What Dentists, Their Staff and Patients Need to Know About a Dental Visit in the Age of Coronavirus,” was published in Compendium of Continuing Education in Dentistry, in April 2020.

As part of our on-going response to the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve installed MEDIFY AI℞ filtration/purifiers throughout our periodontal dental office. These air purification systems use H13 true HEPA filtration, scrubbing the air of viruses, allergens, and dust. The standard efficiency of the H13 class HEPA filter is 99.95% at 0.12 – 0.25 microns (MPPS). It is capable of capturing tiny air pollutants like pollen, household dust, mold spores, microorganisms, and smoke particles. Medify Air claims their filter can remove 99.97% of particles that are sized down to 0.1 microns.

We use three different equipment sterilization systems. Their use depends on the application. We have a fully automatic electronic autoclave. We also have a UV sterilizer and a digital ultra-sonic cleaner. All are used for instruments and other items requiring sterilization.

Growth factor is used in treating gum disease, bone grafting, extraction sockets preservation, and healing enhancement of surgical sites. Our periodontal practice uses multiple devices for isolating and utilizing growth factors. These processes are 100% natural, and the growth factors are derived from a patient’s own blood. Growth factor encourages your body to use its own resources to heal and to regenerate tissue with absolutely no side effects. Two of our favorites are the Bio-PRF centrifuge, and the IntraSpin® system.

We love them because we use these devices for the safe and rapid preparation of your body’s own growth factors.

Our patient’s love them because they assist in a faster and more predictable healing process.

Our office uses the latest in ultra low dose radiation 3D cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) digital imaging technology. The reason we bought the Planmeca ProMax® 3D Mid is because it handles a wide range of diagnostic tasks.

We love it because it allows us to capture small anatomical details in exceptionally high resolution. This is because it is an all-in-one CBCT system that can create 3D imaging, digital 2D panoramics, and extra-oral bite-wings, all in the same unit. 

You’ll love it because it provides a relaxing experience due to its open design, and because it produces a comprehensive diagnostic image in single pass. 

The latest addition to our technology is the iTero Element 5D intraoral volumetric scanner. We use it for situations that may require a surgical guide. It is also used for patient education, complex cases, and for coordinating treatment with other doctors. 

We love it because it provides us with 3D digital impressions. It can also reveal hard to detect dental cavities. Moreover, the iTero Element 5D can provide us with color, time-lapse, and near-infrared imaging, allowing for the scanning the internal structure of a patient’s teeth in real-time.

You’ll love it because it creates a precise 3D model of your teeth without the need for us to make uncomfortable and messy alginate impressions that you may have experienced in the past. Best of all, it does it without exposing you to any harmful radiation.  

For tooth extraction, periodontal treatments, and implant dentistry, we use several state-of-the-art surgical operating microscopes. We use equipment from both Global Surgical Corporation and Zeiss.

The digital X-ray equipment in our office produces top quality digital images, showing every diagnostic detail, even in the most difficult operating situations. Digital dental X-rays expose patients to between 80% and 90% less radiation than traditional X-ray equipment. Using this technology, we can view, magnify, and electronically store high-quality images of your teeth, roots, and jaw.

One of the pieces of equipment we are excited about represents a breakthrough in computer-aided implantology, and is now part of our teledentistry practice. The Navident offers an easy to use and accurate way to plan a desired restoration and implant placement on a virtual patient, then to execute the plan on the real patient. 

The dental implants we use are usually made from titanium. However, there are non-metal posts that can be implanted, including a ceramic post by the Swiss company, Dentalpoint AG. Their product, Zeramex, is a 100% metal free ceramic implant. While more costly than conventional titanium, ceramic implants offer numerous advantages over conventional implants. They have a lower plaque affinity– harmful plaque can find less surface adhesion on ceramic implants than on those made from titanium. This significantly reduces the risk of inflammation around the implant.

Implants act as an artificial “tooth root,” permanently anchoring your new tooth. Each implant is topped with a dental crown, providing a chewing surface and restoring the appearance of the missing tooth.

We have five different lasers that we use, as needed, based on the type procedure required, including tissue healing, gum contouring, and other periodontal treatments.

According to the CDC, 47.2% of adults in the U.S. ages 30 and older have some form of periodontal disease – and the problem increases with age. Gum disease affects 70.1% of adults ages 65 and older.

The primary goal of all types of periodontal treatment is to arrest the progress of gum disease. That involves killing bacteria, removing infection, and closing pockets in the gums. Dr. Horowitz’s laser gum treatment provides a new way to accomplish these goals that is less invasive, more comfortable, and may enhance the ability of the body to repair damage caused by infection.

We maintain a two milling machines, including the TS 150 in-office milling solution from IOS Technologies.  It’s designed for production of crowns from glass ceramic, resin nano ceramic, and PMMA materials.

We use a digital single lens reflex (DSLR) camera for capturing high resolution color pictures of your teeth, gums, and other parts of your mouth. This allows us to view your mouth in stunning detail for understanding and diagnosing your dental condition, and for planning and documenting your treatment.

Computer workstations and monitors are located throughout our offices. Those computers go hand-in-hand with our records technology, allowing us to see your chart and your digital X-rays in the doctor’s office, and sharing your information with you in each of our treatment rooms. This way you can clearly see and understand what we see, so we can map out your treatment plan together.

When it comes to your dental/medical records, our periodontics practice is paper free. We moved to electronic medical records many years ago for streamlining communication and providing better information security. It has the added benefit of saving trees.

While on the subject of your dental/medical records, please know that keeping your information secure and private is of the upmost importance. Our network is protected by anti-virus and anti-malware software that is kept up-to-date. We also follow the advice of our computer consultants regarding spam email and how to recognize and avoid phishing scams. Moreover, all patient information is accessed by us through an off-site, cloud based, dental software company. Your information is encrypted in their HIPAA compliant storage facility.

We use sterile water for piezoelectric, implant surgery. We also have a whole office water filter system for ensuring the quality of the water supply.

When we remove silver dental fillings from our patients, this system captures the metal material, which includes trace amounts of mercury, and keeps it from contaminating the environment.

We maintain an AED dentist package, which includes a defibrillator and other equipment for medical emergencies. We also maintain medications for emergencies. Both our equipment and our medications are kept up-to-date and maintained for readiness.