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6 Tech Toys for Dentists

Source: Wall Street Journal

Sep 01, 2009

Summary

The economy might be softening, but not the appetite among dentists for technology. Bank of America, a large provider of dental equipment loans, says demand for such products actually grew in the first half of 2009. How much all those whiz-bang devices cost dentists—and you:

Digital Panoramic X-Ray Machine

Cost: $35,000 = 304 X-ray sessions

Why it’s popular: These machines, which spin around the patient’s head, expose consumers to less radiation because they capture images of all the teeth in a single take. They also offer a clearer view of the overall jaw structure.

Downside: These X-rays can cost more than traditional ones, and insurance doesn’t always cover the expense.

In-Mouth Camera

Cost: $3,000 = 19 fillings

Why it’s popular: Large, sharp images allow better visibility inside the mouth.

Downside: Howard Strassler, a professor at the University of Maryland Dental School in Baltimore, says these so-called intraoral cameras can promote unnecessary treatment. “Patients see a harmless crack in their teeth blown up on the big screen,” Strassler says, “and the

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