Advanced Dental Technology at Mint Hill Smiles in Mint Hill, NC

Technology · Mint Hill, NC

When Dr. Marvelli and I opened Mint Hill Smiles in 2019

We made a deliberate decision. We were going to invest in the technology that actually changes the patient experience, not just the technology that looks impressive in a brochure. Every piece of equipment in our office was chosen because it makes your appointment faster, more comfortable, more accurate, or some combination of all three. If you have not been to a modern dental practice in a few years, you are going to notice the difference immediately.

Ultra Low Radiation Digital X-Rays

At Mint Hill Smiles we use digital X-ray sensors and a handheld portable X-ray unit rather than traditional film-based imaging. Digital X-rays expose patients to significantly less radiation than conventional dental X-rays, so much so that we actually stay in the room with you instead of running outside to shield ourselves from radiation. Our flexible sensors are also considerably more comfortable to hold in the mouth than the rigid sensors many patients remember from previous dental experiences. Because we can take X-rays chairside without leaving the room, your appointment moves faster and our team can stay present with you throughout.

We look at your X-rays carefully and we use them to show you exactly what we are seeing. If something needs attention, you will see it on the screen at the same time we do.

CBCT Cone Beam 3D Imaging — Vatech Green CT 2

The Vatech Green CT 2 is a CBCT (cone beam computed tomography) scanner, and it is one of the coolest diagnostic tools in our office. Unlike a standard dental X-ray, which gives us a flat two-dimensional image, a CBCT scan creates a full three-dimensional image of your teeth, roots, jawbone, sinuses, nerve canals, and airway. The level of detail is in a completely different category.

We use CBCT imaging for implant planning so we can evaluate bone volume and density before placing anything. We use it for airway evaluation in our Sleep Better Charlotte pediatric airway orthodontics program to understand how a child’s jaw and airway structures are developing. We use it when a standard X-ray raises a question that needs a clearer picture to answer. Having this technology in-house means you do not need a referral to an imaging center. We can take the scan, review it with you, and begin treatment planning in the same appointment.

Better imaging leads directly to better treatment decisions. That matters for how confident both you and your doctor feel going into any procedure.

Intraoral Cameras

Every suite at Mint Hill Smiles has an intraoral camera. A small wand with a high-resolution camera at the tip that allows us to show you exactly what we see inside your mouth in real time. When our doctors identify something worth showing you, from a crack forming in a tooth to gum recession around a root, or an area of concern around an old filling, they put it on the screen immediately so you can see it for yourself.

This matters more than it might seem at first. Patients who can see what is happening in their own mouth make more informed decisions about their care. Treatment does not feel like something being done to you. It feels like a decision you are making with full information. Intraoral cameras also allow us to document the condition of your mouth at every visit, which means we can show you changes over time and catch things early before they become more involved.

Digital Intraoral Scanners — No More Goopy Impressions

We use digital intraoral scanners to create precise digital models of your teeth and bite. If you have ever been to a dental appointment where a tray full of thick, goopy impression material was placed in your mouth and you had to hold perfectly still while it set, you can forget that experience entirely. Our scanners are small wands that pass over your teeth and generate a highly accurate three-dimensional model of your mouth in a matter of minutes. No material, no gagging, no holding your breath.

These digital scans are used for crown fabrication, clear aligner treatment, nightguard fabrication, implant planning, and orthodontic work. The accuracy of a digital scan is also superior to a traditional impression, which means the restorations and appliances we make from that data fit better from the start. For you that means ewer adjustments, fewer follow-up visits, and better results overall.

In-House Crown Milling

Our in-office crown milling machine is the reason we can offer same day crowns at Mint Hill Smiles. Here is how the process works: we prepare your tooth, take a digital scan with our Medit scanner, and send that scan directly to the milling machine. The mill makes your custom porcelain crown from a solid block of ceramic material right here in our office while you wait. The whole process from scan to seated crown typically happens in a single appointment.

No temporary crown. No second visit two to three weeks later. No coordinating your schedule around a lab turnaround. You come in with a damaged tooth and you leave the same day with a permanent, custom-fitted porcelain restoration. For most patients, the same day crown experience is one of the things they mention most when they tell friends about our practice. It is the kind of technology that totally changes what a dental appointment looks like.

In-House 3D Printing

We have multiple printers in our office, and we use them to fabricate orthodontic models, retainers, and surgical guides on-site. This in-house capability means significantly faster turnaround times for these appliances. We are not waiting on an external lab to produce and ship something back to us before we can move your treatment forward.

For patients in clear aligner treatment, we print models for each stage of their aligners in-house. The precision of our 3D printers is very high, which means the fit of what we produce meets the same standard we hold for everything else in our office.

Artificial Intelligence X-Ray Analysis

Overjet is an FDA-cleared artificial intelligence platform that analyzes dental X-rays to identify and measure potential areas of concern. Every set of X-rays taken at Mint Hill Smiles is processed through Overjet before our doctors review and discuss findings with you. The AI identifies areas of potential decay, measures bone levels at each tooth, and flags concerns for the doctor’s attention.

We want to be clear about what this means and what it does not mean. Overjet does not replace the judgment of our doctors. What it does is give them an additional layer of analysis on every image. A second, highly trained set of eyes that processes the X-ray data with a level of consistency and precision that adds so much value to the diagnostic process. It also allows us to show patients exactly what we are seeing in a visual, easy-to-understand format so the conversation about your oral health is grounded in what the data actually shows.

AI Clinical Documentation

BOLA AI handles clinical documentation and periodontal charting for our dental assistants and hygienists during patient appointments. What this means practically is that our clinical team can stay fully present with you during your visit rather than dividing their attention between you and a keyboard.

Clinical notes and periodontal measurements are captured accurately by the AI in real time, which means the record of your appointment is complete and precise without requiring our team to type while they are supposed to be caring for you. It is one of those behind-the-scenes tools that patients rarely see but consistently feel the benefit of. You get a team that is more attentive, more focused, and more present because the documentation is handled.

We invest in technology at Mint Hill Smiles because it connects directly to our mission: compassionate dentistry focused on the patient experience. Better technology means more accurate diagnoses, faster appointments, fewer visits for the same outcome, and less discomfort throughout. Every tool in our office was chosen with that standard in mind.

If you have questions about any of our technology or want to understand how a specific piece of equipment affects your treatment, ask us at your next appointment. We love talking about this stuff.

We serve patients from Mint Hill, Matthews, Indian Trail, Stallings, Weddington, Midland, Albemarle, and southeast Charlotte, NC. Call (704) 323-7577 or visit minthillsmiles.dentist to schedule. We are at 11300 Cresthill Drive, Suite 105, Mint Hill, NC 28227.