Dental visits just aren't the same anymore; they're better thanks to new dental technology. Fred explains how dental technologies such as dental lasers and digital X-rays are transforming the way patients experience dentistry.

  Can't See the Video? Here's the Transcription:

Joe Bauer: Don't need to be afraid of the dentist anymore. There's new technology that is changing dentistry, they have lasers now and Fred Joyal from 1-800-DENTIST is here with us to share just how the dentist has made such changes to make it less painful. The technology has changed the entire patient's experience, hasn't it?

Fred Joyal: It's absolutely true. I mean, in the past 10 years especially, there's been so much new technology that has made dentistry, much more comfort conscious. It can be a very different experience; many people avoid the dentist because of that early trauma.

Joe Bauer: Yeah well that's right, there's a cold atmosphere, you know the lights, the - and it's always cold in there.

Fred Joyal: It seems that way too yeah and you, even dentists are even focusing on how to make the environment more comfortable but the technology is really different too, and it really makes a difference.

Joe Bauer: All right for instance.

Fred Joyal: Well there are lasers now that they can use sometimes instead of drills. There's also things that will reduce the number of appointments you have to come in. There's a device called CEREC®, which instead of needing a temporary on a tooth, the dentist right there in the office can make a crown in 15 minutes, put it right on the tooth.

Joe Bauer: Oh wow. And you always had to come back two or three times.

Fred Joyal: Yes.

Joe Bauer: Sometimes, get the crown right.

Fred Joyal: Get the fit, the temporary build, and then you come back and they take it out. They got to anesthetize you again, even the things they're using for anesthetic, there's different devices that make it go in easier, it's a lot more comfortable. But you're also coming away with more positive things from dentistry, cosmetic veneers for example, whitening obviously is huge. And so you leave the office looking better, feeling better, but at the same time, there are these other devices and other inventions that make it a very different experience.

Joe Bauer: Well, I know with the lasers, I know some of those new lasers now that they can, it can tell you where the cavity is, how deep the cavity is, what kind of cavity, without any probing just with the laser.

Fred Joyal: Yeah.

Joe Bauer: Which is remarkable to me.

Fred Joyal: Now even the X-rays, a lot of dentists are taking it now digital rather than film so that's a little more comfortable too, creates a permanent record, reads better, but the laser that finds decay is much more effective even then, X-rays.

Joe Bauer: Right, so there you go. Now, when you call 1-800-DENTIST, all right, now let's say I, or I go online 1800dentist.com -

Fred Joyal: Either one yeah

Joe Bauer: And I'm not exactly sure what it is, I got a problem.  I got an ache but I don't know, so how do I find out when I -

Fred Joyal: Yeah, it's online, there is a full Encyclopedia that explains all of the different technologies and all of the different difficulties, gum disease, you can ask really any question and find out about it.  Find out about, let's say you're thinking well, I have dentures, but I've heard about dental implants. What's involved, and you can go and read about everything. And that's great, I mean, there is a huge difference in having an implant, it's like a real tooth.

Joe Bauer: Right, and then I can find out which dentist does that right?

Fred Joyal: Right, you can search the database and say I live in this area. I'm looking for a dentist to does Lumineers® for example, which is a type of veneers that goes on, with no preparation. It goes on very easily. You look completely different or who does whitening or who does implants, has a laser, has a CEREC machine, we'll find that dentist for you.

Joe Bauer: So the technology and even having the Internet itself, I mean you ought to be able to the website, 1800dentist.com and to be able to look this all up, do some research, find out about it, find out the dentist that's near you, dentist that does what you want it to do and then, then do I call you? Then do I click in or what?

Fred Joyal: You can click and through the website. You can find the dentist on the website or be connected to a live person, talk to somebody about it, mind that dentist and then be connected straight to the office, but the important thing is to stop avoiding the dentist.

Joe Bauer: Right.

Fred Joyal: If you don't have a dentist we'll help you find one but whatever you do, go find out what the new technology is, it'll really make a difference.

Joe Bauer: Fred we need you, where were you, where were you?

Fred Joyal: I was always there?

Joe Bauer: You're always there?  Now you can do everything. You saw it on the screen now all this new dentist technology, the new dental technology; 1-800-DENTIST is what to remember. 1800dentist.com and look it up there and find out everything you need to find out. Also when you go to the dentist now too, he's able to find out some other things about you that may be involved in other diseases through your mouth.

Fred Joyal: Well your mouth is connected to your overall health. So a dentist can look for oral cancer, he can look for, check for diabetes -

Joe Bauer: Wow.

Fred Joyal: Can, you know, even diagnose you know, the periodontal diseases is a big problem at it, you know it can give you heart problems, things like that so -

Joe Bauer: Right so another reason why you should go and at least get your teeth cleaned as often as you can. Well every four months, six months -

Fred Joyal: Four to six months yeah.

Joe Bauer: Yeah okay good.  Hey Fred. Thank you very much.

Fred Joyal: My pleasure.

Joe Bauer: So glad, I'm so glad you're alive -

Fred Joyal: Me too.

Joe Bauer: And at 1800dentist.com all right. Thanks again. There it is, do it.  They take every smile, personally.