High Tech Dentistry

We are proud to offer to Encino,Tarzana, Woodland Hills, Sherman Oaks and all of the San Fernando Valley, the highest quality dental care using the latest state-of-the-art equipment, techniques, and materials. This sophisticated equipment helps us diagnose potential problems, communicate future treatment needs, and plan effective therapy even before treatment is necessary.

Computers

Our modern Dell computer system is fully networked to all stations and designed to manage at high speed the most up-to-date practices within the dental community. In addition, it stores records of all treatment and financial data and is protected with a power back up and surge suppression. We have multiple hard drives and use a daily flash memory and daily off site back up. This system saves staff time so that we can provide you with the upmost individualized care and allows us to focus on you.

We strongly believe in the privacy of patient records. Everything in our office complies with Federal HIPPA regulations on patient privacy. We are convinced that every step has been taken to protect you valuable treatment information. Being very careful with patient records, we are not a "paperless" office.

Dentrix Corp., a division of Henry Schein Corp. (NYSE), provides our software.  They are the largest dental software company in the world with over 20,000 users. They provide us with continual updates and improvements as they are developed plus 24/7 technical support The system processes insurance claims and sends them electronically to the insurance carriers for more accurate and rapid processing of your claims. It can generate letters to specialists, other dentists, and insurance companies in moments.

Our X-rays are made with the traditional system so that we have a hard copy in are hands at all times. We use Kodak ultra high-speed high definition film and process all film ourselves for optimum quality control. The clarity, detail and gray scale are superb. As in medicine, they are excellent for diagnosis and form a permanent image that can be easily transported from one office to another in a universally accepted format.

Intra-Oral Camera

We now have a new type of diagnostic equipment to help you better understand your dental needs and to help us to find disaese in its earlyist stages where it is more easily treated. It is called an intra-oral camera. The original cameras were an offshoot of medical laparoscope. Then with several years of research and development the laparoscope was redesigned into a form for dental use. With self-focusing capabilities over a wide range of distances plus a high intensity fiber optic light system. The magnification is 38 x normal vision. we will be able to see with it your teeth, all of the restorations, cavities and other areas that may need care. This small pencil shaped camera is moved around the inside of your mouth from tooth to tooth.

This will give you a video exam of all your teeth and gums so you can see everything that you have never seen or even known about before. Also, it is in color and on our video screen and in each of our treatment rooms. We can freeze and store the pictures of your mouth for a close up look and then we can make an instant print for you, your insurance company, and your later review. This painless, zero radiation devices allows you to see clearly any problems developing. With a red laser pointer dot we can point out the smallest details such as defective fillings, cracks and fractured teeth, decay, bleeding gum, plaque and stain. We will discuss our findings and develop a treatment plan for restoring your mouth to optimal health. Any and all questions you may have will be answered at this point to your complete satisfaction.

It is easier for most people to understand their dental needs by actually seeing what their dentist sees. It also allows you to see problem areas that could easily be had to understand with just a normal visual examination.

Arestin

Dental professionals and hygienists use ARESTIN® (minocycline hydrochloride) as an adjunct to scaling and root planning (deep cleaning)? This is because ARESTIN® is the first locally administered antibiotic (LAA) with microspheres that has been proven to be more effective than routine treatments alone. ARESTIN® significantly reduces pocket depths, kills the bacteria associated with periodontal disease, and decreases bleeding on gum treatments. It is also very effective for treating local spots of severe infection. It is a true breakthrough. It fights infections directly where they start. Read more about Arestin.

Dental Air Abrasion

This new device has several great advantages. It is great for a conservative treatment and is comfortable too. There is no heat buildup and stress on the tooth and often there is no discomfort at all. It is wonderful for removing the old white fillings which it does more conservatively than the drill and faster. This instrument looks like a tiny sand blaster that shoots out a tiny precise flow of aluminum oxide particles which are safely suctioned up during the procedure. Dr. Melnick can pinpoint a stain or small area of decay without having to drill out more tooth structure than necessary. We usually use it without a standard drill to help minimize the amount of actual drilling that is sometimes necessary in very large decayed areas. Dr. Melnick was the first dentist in Encino to be trained to use this technique and has a large amount of experience in this procedure. Read more about Dental Air Abrasion.

Patient Education Systems

The American Dental Association Dental Patient Education Series raises dental patient comprehension to a remarkable new level. By having these animated images with narration describes most of our procedures so a good good working knowledge can be achieved. They say a picture is worth a thousand words. This system is worth even more than that. We purchased a DVD system for educating our patients several tear ago and it has had great acceptance. To name a few of the topics covered are new patient exams, post-surgical care, implants, veneers, and bleaching, and it even explains the differences between porcelain crowns and gold crowns. This tool is available in our audio visual area so that our patients may view it undisturbed .so that our patients can easily learn as much from it as possible The American Dental Association Patient Education Series can assist you gain an understanding of the treatments available and help you pick the option best suited for you.

 

"I had not been to a dentist in probably ten years simply because I had been hurt.  I heard of the sedation process and decided to go to Dr. Melnick. I can say without hesitation it was the best thing I could have done. I would highly recommend it to anyone who has a fear of dental work." Jack D., Teacher - West Los Angeles