Patient Testimonials: High-Tech
Patients of Dr. Mark Marion in Zelienople, PA leave raving reviews. We have a 4.9 out of 5-star Google review rating . Many of our reviews mention what a “high-tech dentist office” Marion Smile Center is and how our team is “on the cutting edge of dentistry.” We are so excited to announce that within the past month, our Zelienople, PA dentist office invested in our most recent technology acquisition to give our patients the most comfortable, highest quality, and best dental care possible – 3-D CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) imaging machine.
5-Star Google Review: “I’ve been going here for a good 10 years and have always had a fantastic experience every time. Even when going for unpleasant procedures they always make it easy for you. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and always ready to help. They also use cutting-edge technology for early detection and makes for practical experiences for appointment setting and getting any information you need in a timely manner. Easily the best dentist in the area and would absolutely recommend using them for any dentistry need you have.”
~ Paul Bliss
5-Star Google Review: “I was favorably impressed with the operation right from the start. Receptionist Kathy was very attentive and stopped what she was doing at the moment to get me registered. Dr. Marion’s technicians were equally attentive and there was no sitting around in the waiting room. Finally, the dental equipment was all high tech such as I’ve never seen before (e.g. three-dimensional imagery, remote close-up camera, precise measurement for fitting a crown, etc.). All things considered, it was a well-run, punctual, and pain-free operation.”
~ Brian Roberts
Using Highest Technology Available Today
Upgrading Imaging Equipment
Dentistry and technology are ever changing and putting your health in the hands of a team that stays at the forefront is crucial. Pittsburgh Magazine Top Cosmetic and Family dentist, Dr. Mark Marion, prides himself on improving patient care whenever and wherever possible. Our new 3-D CBCT imaging machine took the place of our former 2-D panoramic machine. While the 2-dimensional technology of the former Pan Machine captured digital photos of the entire mouth including all the teeth and surrounding bone, jaw joint to jaw joint in a single image, the new 3-D CBCT machine provides more detailed photos than possible with only 2-D technology. Now, with CBCT, the quality of the images is unmatched. We are mostly excited that it will also allow us to take new angles of specific teeth or areas of the mouth, this will give Dr. Mark Marion’s patients an easier and more accurate diagnosis during visits. We will touch more on the specifics of this later in this blog post.
Confidence You’re Receiving the Care You NEED
Not only is staying at the forefront of dental technology good for our dental team, but our patients love and appreciate our significant investments in both time and money. We are grateful Dr. Mark Marion has embraced what it takes to be on the cutting edge of dentistry: financial, training, and implementation.
First and foremost, seeing is believing. For instance, years ago a dentist would inform patients with cavities that they had a cavity. However, only the dentist themselves could see the minuscule area of decay on a small 1-inch X-ray film. You were informed that the recommended treatment was to remove the cavity and have a filling placed. Some patients at this stage may not yet have had pain or sensitivity. While dentists are ranked one of the most trustworthy occupations, most people are visual learners.
At Marion Smile Center, we love to educate and show you what’s truly happening in your mouth by involving and engaging our patients. We do this by taking digital X-rays and using our high-quality intraoral cameras. These cameras allow us to take pictures of your mouth to show views of your teeth and gums that you can’t see just by looking in the mirror. As our team takes the images, they are immediately available to be shown on any of our large 25-inch treatment room computer monitors for you to see for yourself! We took great strides to place large computer monitors in each treatment room so that the monitor is visible not only to the Doctor but also to the patient. When Dr. Marion points to the area of decay on the treatment room monitor, it gives patients confidence that the treatment recommended is needed and peace of mind now that they too can see the dental condition Dr. Marion and his team sees with their amazing technology.
Faster Appointment Times
Patients and team members alike also appreciate the fact that the new technology allows for images to be taken faster and are instantly displayed on any of the seventeen (17) computer monitors located throughout our beautiful office. Often, Dr. Marion has already seen your digital images before he walks into your treatment room as he accessed them from his private office. This saves you time!
Remember back in the day when dental team members would have to go into a dark film-developing room to dip and hang X-rays, making patients have to wait 15 minutes or more to get any feedback at all? Thanks to digital X-rays, that is a thing of the past (for this dental office at least). We take every step we can to make sure our patients have the best, most comfortable, and thorough visit possible. Your time is valuable to us.
It’s hard to believe that the new 3-D Pan + CBCT actually has lower dose radiation than our 2-D former Pan only machine! Technology is better and at the same time better for you and the environment. No more dangerous developing chemicals are put into our environment. In fact, we had a physicist come to our office and prove to us that the installation and new CBCT equipment is working as it should. Moving forward, we will have a physicist come annually to do so. Another example of Dr. Marion doing good!
Less Invasive Treatment
Using the latest digital technologies also gives Dr. Marion and his team access to improved diagnostic tools for both preventative and restorative dentistry. This enables them to identify any issues at earlier stages and start any necessary treatment faster, resulting in less invasive oral therapy.
Preventative X-rays & Intraoral Photos: The dental hygienists who clean your teeth at Marion Smile Center have technology at their fingertips, too. Dr. Marion has trained them to use cavity detecting equipment to narrow their focus and then take any additional X-rays or intraoral photos of suspicious decay.
Because Dr. Marion can see cavities earlier in their development, he can often use air-abrasion techniques to remove the decay without needing to anesthetize the patient (e.g. injecting anesthetic such as Novocain, Lidocaine, etc.). Patients especially appreciate this non-invasive treatment that is more comfortable for them when possible.
Oral DNA Testing: The Dental Hygienists also conduct microscope slide analysis on all adult patients to determine if their is harmful destructive bacteria in your gum pockets. If so, they then send the sample to a lab for Oral DNA testing to determine the exact bacteria present and if and what specific antibiotic would best help reduce that bacteria.
What is CBCT?
CBCT stands for Cone-Beam Computed Tomography. It is a special type of 3-D machine used by dental professionals that rotates around the patient and captures multiple images or views using a cone-shaped X-ray beam. The 3-D software is capable of taking many detailed images of the head and neck region, such as one’s nasal cavity, sinuses, airways, teeth, jaws, TMJ, bone in the craniofacial region, soft tissue, and nerve paths in a single scan.
Benefits of CBCT
Expert Diagnosis: The images obtained from a CBCT scan show unmatched detail at extremely high resolution to view the finest details, this allows Dr. Marion to provide more precise treatment planning faster, with greater confidence than ever before. Dr. Marion is so impressed with the images of the new CBCT, that he insisted each team member and his family members each have a 3-D image taken. Other dentists using this new higher resolution technology have found serious conditions in their own family and team members. That’s leading by example. We are so proud to work with our well-qualified dentist, Dr. Mark Marion.
Stronger Trust: Since many new angles can be captured with such great detail, patients can receive more predictable and accurate treatment outcomes. Showing clear 3-D images and explaining them to patients allows them to understand and feel confident in accepting their treatment plan.
Low Dose X-ray: Using CBCT, 3-D images are 50% lower dose digital radiation than the traditional 2-D panoramic and regular CT scanning.
Faster with Crisp Imaging: Reduced 7-8 second scan time is a huge benefit for children who have a hard time sitting still. Smart, effortless, laser-free positioning reduces the risks of retakes, giving better outcomes in less time (even when the patient is not perfectly aligned). Increased resolutions (300 microns low dose) with impressive sharpness, capturing the perfect image.
Greater Capabilities: The CBCT technology can be used for an array of specialties in the dental field. CBCT is great for Oral Surgery because it shows impacted teeth, gives a detailed assessment of 3rd molars, shows tumors, and gives a 3-D visual of bone height, width, and thickness. Placing Implants utilizes 3-D imaging with metal artifact reduction, enhanced clarity, and assists in placement into the jawbone avoiding sinuses or nerve tissue. This machine does a fantastic job supporting Endodontics (Root Canals) showing external cervical resorption, failing root canals, or hidden canals. Periodontics (Gum Therapy) can benefit because it shows root fractures, assesses cysts and bone levels, and shows furcation defects. Orthodontics benefits because it assesses jaw alignment, shows any supernumerary teeth, and provides information on the stage of development, position, and size of teeth. It can also be used for dental exams to diagnose TMJ or locate the origin of pain by scanning bone and soft tissues easily.
High Tech Dentist in Zelienople, PA
We are beyond excited to share our newest technologies with you at your next dental appointment. By bringing CBCT to the Zelienople-Harmony area, Dr. Marion can provide more precise treatment planning, and educate and share information with you about your oral health, all while minimizing radiation exposure to support commitment to patient safety.
If you or someone you know has been looking for a Family or Cosmetic Dentist who is dedicated to staying at the forefront of modern dentistry while providing personalized, comfortable care – call 724.452.300 or click here to request an appointment. Your oral health and overall patient experience are Dr. Marion’s #1 priority. Embracing cutting-edge technology is crucial in ensuring our team delivers the highest standard of care for our valued patients.
To learn about other dental services offered in South-Western, PA, click here.
To learn about other dental technology offered at Marion Smile Center, click here.
