iTero Scanner

Hughes & Cozad Orthodontics is proud to integrate the iTero Scanner into our practice, showcasing our commitment to delivering state-of-the-art orthodontic solutions. This revolutionary technology transforms the patient experience by offering a quick, comfortable, and highly accurate alternative to traditional dental impressions.

• Comfort & Convenience — The iTero Scanner eliminates the need for messy, uncomfortable impressions. Its non-invasive laser technology captures precise 3D images of your mouth in minutes, ensuring a gag-free and pleasant experience.
• Precision & Efficiency — With unmatched accuracy, the iTero Scanner lays the foundation for more effective treatments. It meticulously maps out every detail of your dental structure, allowing us to design a customized treatment plan tailored to your unique needs.
• Preview Your Smile — A standout feature of the iTero Scanner is its ability to simulate your treatment outcome. Before starting your journey, you’ll get a sneak peek of your future smile, boosting confidence and excitement about the process ahead.
• Integrates With Invisalign — For those choosing Invisalign, the iTero Scanner’s precise digital impressions are essential for crafting your custom aligners, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal results.

Incorporating the iTero Scanner into our services underscores our dedication to leveraging cutting-edge technology for superior patient care.

CBCT

In the ever-evolving field of orthodontics, precision is not just a goal — it’s a necessity. The introduction of Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) scans has marked a revolutionary step forward, giving us an unparalleled level of detail that enhances every aspect of dental care. This advanced imaging technology provides comprehensive 3D views of the oral and maxillofacial region, going above and beyond the capabilities of traditional X-rays.

CBCT scans work using a cone-shaped X-ray beam that rotates around the patient, capturing multiple images from different angles. These images are then compiled into a three-dimensional model of the patient’s dental structures, bones, and soft tissues. This level of detail and clarity allows for more accurate diagnoses, precise treatment planning, and improved patient outcomes.

What makes CBCT scans so exciting for us — and beneficial for you — is their ability to reveal the exact positioning of each tooth, even those hidden ones waiting to make an appearance or the ones snugly tucked away. This insight is invaluable, especially when we’re plotting the course of your orthodontic journey, ensuring treatments like braces or aligners fit not just well, but perfectly.

3D Printing

Imagine a world where your dental appliances, from retainers to aligners, are crafted with such precision that they fit you perfectly right from the start. That’s the world 3D printing has opened up for us and, more importantly, for you. This technology allows us to create highly accurate and customized orthodontic devices tailored specifically to your unique dental anatomy. It’s like having orthodontic solutions designed just for you, because, well, they are!

Here’s how it works: We start by taking a digital scan of your mouth, capturing every detail in high resolution. This scan then serves as the blueprint for the 3D printer, which layers material upon material to build your custom appliance from the ground up. The result? A perfect match for your teeth, offering not only superior comfort but also efficiency in treatment.

But the magic of 3D printing doesn’t stop at customization. It also allows us to be incredibly efficient with our time and resources. Need a replacement retainer or a new set of aligners? 3D printing slashes waiting times, making the process faster than ever before. Plus, it gives us the flexibility to make adjustments on the fly, ensuring your treatment progresses smoothly.

SureSmile Wires (CAD CAM Technology)

SureSmile wires are not your typical orthodontic wires. They are the product of sophisticated digital planning and fabrication processes that utilize advanced imaging and computer-aided design and manufacturing (CAD/CAM) technologies. This approach allows for a level of customization and accuracy that was previously unattainable in orthodontics.

SureSmile wires are crafted from a special type of material known as shape memory alloy. This innovative material is engineered to respond to the warmth of a patient’s mouth. Upon activation by body temperature, the wires gently return to their pre-programmed shape. This unique feature allows the wires to apply continuous, gentle forces on the teeth, guiding them toward the desired alignment with remarkable precision.

The heat-activation property is particularly beneficial because it minimizes discomfort commonly associated with traditional braces adjustments. Instead of relying on manual tightening, which can often cause sudden pressure and discomfort, the gradual movement facilitated by SureSmile wires ensures a smoother transition as teeth move into their correct positions. This not only enhances the patient experience but also contributes to the overall effectiveness of the treatment.

The uniqueness of SureSmile wires extends beyond their material composition to the very process by which they are created. Utilizing advanced technology, each wire is meticulously bent by a computer-controlled robot, based on a highly detailed and personalized treatment plan. This level of precision ensures that the forces applied by the wires are exactly as needed for each individual patient’s dental structure, optimizing the path to achieving the desired results.