Dental Technology in Hamilton
What Our Equipment Means for You
Hamilton Smile Studios has its own CBCT scanner, an iTero Lumina intraoral scanner, digital X-rays, MegaGen R2 guided implant surgery and Airflow hygiene. Below, each one is explained by what it changes for you in the chair: fewer trips elsewhere, less guesswork, and no impression putty.
CBCT Shows the Bone in 3D
A normal X-ray is flat. A cone beam CT scan builds a three-dimensional picture of the jaw, so we can measure how tall and wide the bone is and see where the lower jaw's nerve runs and how low the sinus sits above the upper back teeth.
- Taken at your consultation here in the practice, so there's no referral to a hospital and no waiting list
- Dr Sharma plans every implant and full-arch case on it before a surgery date is set
- Only used when the 3D detail would change the plan, because the dose is higher than a small X-ray
- A scan costs £160, and other dentists can refer patients in for one
iTero Scans Replace the Putty
If you've ever gagged on a tray of impression paste, this is the part you'll like. A slim wand passes over your teeth for a few minutes and a colour 3D model appears on the screen beside you.
- Your Invisalign preview is built from it, so you see the likely result before you pay
- Whitening trays, retainers and night guards are made from the scan, which is why they fit closely
- Crowns and veneers are made from the digital scan, with no impression to distort on its way to the lab
- Scans taken months apart can be laid over each other to show wear or movement
Guided Implants, Placed to Plan
Your CT scan and iTero scan are combined on the computer, and the implant is positioned on screen first. A 3D-printed guide is then made to sit over your teeth or gum, and during surgery the drill can only follow the angle and depth that was planned.
- The guesswork is taken out on the day, because the decisions were made beforehand
- Where the bone allows, the gum often needs only a small opening rather than a wide cut, which usually means less swelling
- Temporary teeth can often be made in advance, ready for surgery day 1
- We place MegaGen AnyRidge implants. The implant itself carries the CleanImplant Trusted Quality seal (that seal is for the implant, not a certification of our practice)
- Our implants come with a 5-year guarantee for non-smokers who attend hygiene visits every 3 months
Digital X-Rays at a Lower Dose
A small sensor replaces old-fashioned film. It needs less radiation, and the picture appears on screen within seconds, so we can talk you through it while you're still in the chair.
- Less radiation than film for the same view
- Enlarged on screen, so you can see the decay or bone loss we're describing
- Can be sent securely to a hospital or another dentist if you need a referral
- A small X-ray is £10 and a large one £75, where they aren't already included in your treatment
Airflow Cleans with Less Scraping
Warm water, air and a very fine powder are sprayed over the teeth to lift plaque and staining. Our hygienist, Simra Ashraf, uses it during hygiene visits, so less scraping is needed and teeth feel smooth afterwards.
- Gentle around implants, crowns and the attachments used with Invisalign
- Reaches stain in the gaps between teeth that brushing misses
- Many patients find it more comfortable than an old-style rubber-cup polish
- A 30-minute hygiene visit with Airflow is £100, or £30 as an add-on
A scan is only as good as the plan it leads to.
None of this replaces a careful examination and a proper conversation about what you want. What it does is let us measure before we decide, and show you the evidence on screen instead of asking you to take our word for it.
Look at Your Own Scans
At an implant or Invisalign consultation, your dentist goes through your images with you on screen. Travelling from Bothwell, Blantyre or Larkhall? The scans and the conversation happen in the same appointment.
Everything described here is on site at 20–22 Brandon Street, Hamilton. Trademarks: Invisalign, iTero and iTero Lumina belong to Align Technology, Inc.; MegaGen and AnyRidge belong to MegaGen Implant Co., Ltd.