Nassau Dentist Uses New Technology for Tooth Implants

Carole Horowitz, D.M.D., a cosmetic and family dentist, and Ronald Knoll, D.M.D., M.S., a prosthodontist, are a husband-and-wife team that satisfies a broad spectrum of dental needs. As an experienced prosthodontist, Dr. Knoll specializes in tooth restoration, correcting bites, and poor aesthetics using implants and prosthetics. The practice has a new digital approach for replacing missing teeth, which utilizes CT/CAT scans to superimpose in the jaw a finished prototype of the exact size and shape of the missing tooth.

“We work backwards. We build everything first, virtually, then place the implants, assured that they are in the right place,” Dr. Knoll says.

The benefit for the patient is that there is a much higher success rate for obtaining the desired results. This type of surgery technology removes a lot of potential error—it’s easier to avoid vessels, sinuses, and nerves thus making it much safer for the patient, according to Dr. Knoll. “You can only do that when you’re using this type of technology,” he says.

Using 3-D prototypes in dental restoration borrows from technology that has long been used in industries such as engineering and design. The technology is not often used in dentistry, though, because of the high level of difficulty that requires extensive training.

This treatment is suitable for patients of any age. The most common reasons for using this technology with adolescents, teens, young adults, and adults are congenitally missing teeth, missing permanent teeth, or missing teeth due to sports or other traumatic injuries. 

Main photo: A 3-D image of a virtual implant surgery is done before the actual surgery to ensure the implants are the right shape and size.