Dental Care Technology

Learn More About Our Technology

Dr. Adkins and our team at Byrd Adkins DDS - Smile Company make every effort to ensure that our patients get the best care possible by using the latest technology. We invite you to learn more about the technology we use at our practice.

Precision Dentistry

Dentistry is considered a type of micro-surgery. To ensure that our patients get the most accurate work, we use high-powered microscopes to see what we are doing clearly. These microscopes allow us to deliver a precise fit and finish that would be impossible with the naked eye. Furthermore, they shine a beam of light directly into the patient’s mouth (not their entire face) for optimal comfort.

We also use electric handpieces (drills) for our precise restoration work. Many dentists use air-driven handpieces instead. Air-driven handpieces are noisier and do not rotate as smoothly. While this is acceptable for many kinds of dental work, only an electric handpiece will produce the most precise results for many types of crowns, veneers, fittings, and other general dentistry services. Because of this, we use electric handpieces when appropriate.

Digital Imaging

Many patients are nervous about radiographs (X-rays), so Dr. Adkins is cautious about deciding when to use radiographs. We follow many guidelines so that we can balance our patients’ hesitation about being exposed to radiation with our ability to diagnose and/or examine the following:

• Cavities
• Bone level and bone health
• Roots and nerves of teeth
• Lesions such as cysts and tumors
• Trauma damage

Along with radiographs, we also use digital imaging technology at our practice. This technology requires an exposure time that is 50% less than that of traditional radiography. It can also produce a more precise image that is viewed on a computer monitor, not a film held up to the light. Finally, digital imaging and digital X-rays allow us to easily store your images and quickly transfer them to other specialists or your insurance company.

Intraoral Camera

Our intraoral camera is designed to help you see and understand your diagnosis. Especially for younger patients who are used to interacting with screens, the image produced by the intraoral camera is easily understood. The cameras we use are very small (often only a few millimeters long) but produce clear and precise images of your mouth, teeth, and gums. We can easily see details we might miss during a typical mirror examination. This allows us to make a diagnosis more quickly and move on to treatment.

The intraoral camera also allows us to store images to provide a permanent record of your treatment. We can print these images out for you, other specialists, dental labs, and your insurance company. This allows us to share information more quickly and provide you with the best possible treatment plan.

At Byrd Adkins DDS - Smile Company, we take great pride in offering the most advanced treatments and technology to our patients here in Amarillo. If you have questions about the technology we will use at your appointment, please   contact  our office or call us at (806) 208-4364.