Advanced Technology

At Chapel Hill Implant & Oral Surgery Center, it is important that our patients receive the most advanced care possible. From your initial diagnosis to final treatment, we use technological advancements that have substantially improved the quality of oral surgery services that we can provide to our patients. The state-of-the-art medical devices in our office allow us to better assist our patients and deliver the highest level of patient care.

THE CARESTREAM CONE BEAM SYSTEM

Carestream Cone Beam System

3D imaging with our Carestream Cone Beam System generates high definition x-rays of your oral cavity within seconds. We use this revolutionary technology to gather precise details and accurately diagnose and then create treatments plans that are tailored to your particular case. Cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) provides information not available when using traditional x-rays.

Our 3D imaging system allows Dr. Hill to:

  • Gain visual access to every angle
  • Eliminate guesswork in measuring and positioning implants
  • Analyze nerve, sinus, and root positions before surgery
  • Determine best treatment options

3D imaging is a state-of-the-art tool that is not only effective in aiding Dr. Hill in performing his best work, but it significantly improves our patients’ experience as well. Our 3D imaging system provides quick, easy, instant scans, is less expensive, and allows for a more comfortable patient experience.

The health and safety of our patients is our top priority, and CBCT imaging ensures the best possible care available.

3D imaging:

  • Allows patients exposure to very low amounts (up to 10x less) of radiation
  • Provides the most accurate diagnosis and treatment plans
  • Facilitates increased success in procedures
  • Decreases surgical risk factor by diagnosing problems

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IGI SYSTEM — Implant Guided Implantology

Dental implants allow patients who have experienced tooth loss to regain their fully functional and natural-looking smiles. Implant dentistry is one of the latest advancements in tooth replacement, and although freehand implant placement has long been a proven approach, our IGI System has taken this innovative procedure one step further.

Putting into practice his extensive expertise and experience, Dr. Hill uses dynamic-guided implant surgery technology to locate optimal implant positioning, secure the best aesthetic outcome, and reduce overall surgery time. From the initial cone beam computerized tomography (CBCT) scans that are analyzed by Dr. Hill for implant placement planning to the intra-operative procedure itself, computer-guided implant surgery ensures precise and accurate implant placement.

The information gathered by our cone beam scanner is used to:

  • Evaluate bone and vital structures
  • Ensure there is adequate bone for implant placement
  • Verify the safety of important structure and nerves
  • Create a surgical template and dynamic guided plan (i.e. GPS for the implant surgeon) that is used to determine the best locations for implant placement

At Chapel Hill Implant & Oral Surgery Center, we understand that the goal is not the placement of the implant itself but rather the effect that the placement of the crown (on the implant) has on bite and aesthetics. Sadly, we have seen many dental crowns that have been placed in the wrong position during freehand implant surgery, resulting in uncomfortable and unsightly outcomes.

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X-GUIDE

X-Guide, the newest and most advanced 3D navigational system, allows Dr. Hill to place dental implants with an unsurpassed level of precision and control. Adding this latest form of digital scanning software to our current capabilities at Chapel Hill Implant & Oral Surgery Center has significantly enhanced the effectiveness of our cone beam 3D imaging.

Dynamic computer-guided dental implant surgery is a new and exciting field of dental surgery, and X-Guide is a tool that allows Dr. Hill to see — via a computer screen — into your mouth as he operates. X-Guide scans, navigates, and — similar to a GPS — directs Dr. Hill to exact locations as he plans and performs surgery.

X-Guide is an interactive system which aids the Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon in improving the precision, angle, and depth of each implant placement. Dr. Hill confidently makes and uses a 3D treatment plan by accessing X-Guide’s live, 360-degree view of drill position and oral anatomy. This cutting-edge technology assists in our achieving consistent and desirable results, as it provides Dr. Hill with one dynamic focus point: the screen.

X-Guide provides a variety of benefits for our implant surgery patients.

The X-Guide advanced technology:

  • Saves time
  • Improves accuracy
  • Provides same-day surgery options
  • Allows for complete treatment in one location
  • Requires minimal incisions
  • Reduces cost

X-Guide is simply a tool that requires the skill and experience of an expert implant surgeon. Combining the latest advances in technology with the expertise of Dr. Hill, we have truly seen an increase in overall patient satisfaction and happy, healthy smiles.

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L-PRF GRAFTING

Leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) grafting

At our practice, we take pride in using the best technology and techniques to optimize our treatment plans. We customize your care by utilizing L-PRF grafting in a variety of procedures, such as dental implants and sinus ridge augmentations. Grafting material can fill in an area where bone or tissue is absent, help provide structural stability and assist in the healing process. Leukocyte platelet-rich fibrin (L-PRF) is an advanced grafting technique, in which we use your blood to create personalized grafting material.

L-PRF is used for dental and oral maxillofacial surgical procedures, including dental implants, bone defects, extraction sockets, sinus and dental ridge augmentation, palatal defects, and maxillary bone atrophy. L-PRF grafting accelerates the body’s natural healing process, contains zero additives, reduces the risk of allergy and side effects, and produces excellent bone or tissue quality.

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THE OSSTELL SYSTEM

Osstell IDX equipment measures the degree of osseointegration

As medical professionals, it is our duty to help our patients make the best decisions possible for their health, and Osstell IDX provides accurate, consistent and objective data to do just that. We utilize this specialized machine to help us determine when it is safe to place the permanent abutment and crown, during the dental implant placement process. Osstell IDX indirectly measures the degree of osseointegration (or how much the jawbone has fused with the titanium implant) by directly measuring the stability of the implant.

This machine has three parts: the SmartPeg, probe and IDX instrument. The SmartPeg attaches to a patient’s implant, and the probe has a magnet, which emits magnetic pulses. The magnetic pulses cause the SmartPeg to vibrate, and the IDX instrument measures the frequency of these vibrations, which are represented by a value called ISQ. If your jawbone is dense (or healed), the peg vibrates at a higher frequency. So, if the implant is stable, you will have a high ISQ value. If the ISQ value is low, that means the bone is not dense or is not done healing, and the implant is not stable.

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BONE MORPHOGENETIC PROTEIN

Bone morphogenetic protein is an isolated protein that induces specific cells in our body to form new cartilage and bone. During surgery, the BMP is soaked onto and binds with a collagen sponge. The sponge is then designed to resorb, or disappear, over time. As the sponge dissolves, the bone morphogenetic protein stimulates the cells to produce new bone. The BMP also goes away once it has completed its task of jump starting the normal bone healing process.

Since there is no need to harvest bone from the patients’ hip or other surgical site for BMP, recipients were spared donor site pain. Complications from the graft harvest site are also eliminated with the use of bone morphogenic protein.

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State-of-the-art Outpatient Surgical Facility

For years, Dr. Hill has devoted extensive time and education to dental implantology and oral surgery, resulting in top-notch dental implant and oral surgical care. Our state-of-the-art outpatient surgical facility makes it possible for our procedures to be fully completed in our surgical center, providing both convenience and comfort to each and every patient. Committed to accuracy and precision, we continue to implement the latest, most innovative devices, technology, materials, and techniques to ensure we always deliver beautiful results.