Dr. Woodruff believes that his office should have the best equipment that will ensure the utmost quality of the services he provides.  Modern technology has made the dental treatment process easier, faster, and more comfortable for the patient.  At the same time, modern technology has helped our patients achieve a qualitatively higher level of dental care.

Here are some of the latest technological advancements that our office employs in order to enhance the care we provide for our patients.

Digital Radiography
This system uses digital computer technology to record radiographic (x-ray) images, instead of the traditional film and emulsion system invented over a century ago. One of the advantages of this system is the speed of obtaining a dental x-ray image.  It now takes approximately 15 seconds , rather than a minimum of three minutes. In addition, the radiation levels used are reduced by 50 - 75%.  As a result, our patients are exposed to far less radiation than in an office without this system.  The images are stored digitally in our computer system.

Intra-oral video camera system
We use an intra-oral video camera in our hygienist's room.  At each hygiene visit, our patients can observe the condition of their teeth and gums on an overhead monitor.  This process helps the patient understand -- and literally see -- their dental condition.  At the same time, they can take part of the discovery process.  Our patients agree that the intra-oral camera system has increased their knowledge and understanding of their dental needs -- they appreciate being more informed.  This system is also helpful in storing still video images for future reference and in monitoring certain disease processes.  The still-video images are also beneficial in providing documentation for insurance claims.

APEX Locator
We are currently using the latest model of an electronic apex locator.  An apex locator is an instrument that can accurately determine the length of the internal canal of a tooth during a root canal procedure.  By using an apex locator, we can eliminate the need for some x-rays or radiographs, thereby minimizing the radiation exposure for our patients.

Computer Network
We have a local area network (LAN) of six computers so that we have immediate access to all our data. The digital radiography images and the still video images that are stored can be viewed at any workstation. We are very much an information-age office.