He was meeting with investors that night and didn’t want to spend the occasion being embarrassed about his smile. But, his fears were unfounded. He walked into a dentist office at 4 p.m. and left 90 minutes later with a permanent crown. Crisis averted.

There may be a message in his story for the many Canadians who would rather have their tongues stuck to a frozen flagpole than visit a dentist: Thanks to modern technology, dental procedures are now more effective, more comfortable, and less time-consuming than ever before.

Another major development in dentistry is the introduction of CAD/CAM, a computer software that is used to design and manufacture products such as crowns, veneers, and dentures. A dentist who has an in-house CAD/CAM and milling machine can complete a tooth restoration in one day, saving his patient the hassle of coming back two or more times to complete the process.

Countless dentists have switched to digital X-rays in recent years. The dentist places an electronic sensor in the patient’s mouth. It captures images and sends them to a computer screen. The dentist then gets vivid images of decay and other problems. In fact, the quality of these X-Rays is so good, even patients are able to make sense of them. Because the dentist is able to magnify these images, he is able to make a better diagnosis than he would otherwise. Also, these digital X-Rays are processed in seconds rather than minutes.

Another major development in dentistry is the introduction of CAD/CAM, a computer software that is used to design and manufacture products such as crowns, veneers, and dentures. A dentist who has an in-house CAD/CAM and milling machine can complete a tooth restoration in one day, saving his patient the hassle of coming back two or more times to complete the process.

The more dentists use these technologies, the less they need to insert trays filled with a gooey substance (alginate) into their patients’ mouths in order to get impressions.

Cone beam CT is another big advancement. This computerized tomography gives dentists a quick 3-D image of a patient’s oral or maxillofacial anatomy. Needless to say, this technology has proven invaluable to oral surgeons and periodontists when placing dental implants.

Dental care is money well spent

With patients enjoying better and faster treatment thanks to technological advancements, dental care professionals are hoping more people will tend to their oral health. Physicians feel the same way because dental health is tied to overall health.

For example, cavities and gum disease have been tied to diabetes, respiratory diseases, and other serious conditions. Experts are looking into possible links between poor oral health and heart disease, and there is even some speculation that oral health is linked to women giving birth to underweight babies.

“Untreated dental issues can lead to serious infection and even sepsis,” adds Dr. Robert Gottlander, a dentist and Chief Marketing Officer with Henry Schein, the leading dental supplier in Canada. “The mouth is part of the human body. If you don’t have good oral health you are at risk for many medical problems.”

Also, it’s no secret that poor oral health can affect a person’s appearance and self-esteem. “If you don’t feel good about your mouth you change how you behave,” Gottlander says. “For example, you cover your mouth when you speak. There are far-reaching implications.”

Gottlander and other dental care professionals agree that, even though dental care can be costly at times, it is money well spent. When it comes to dental health, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.