by Glenn Aufderhar

The environment on Lopez Island and the dental patients at Bayview Dental will all benefit from the new equipment installed in Dr. Christine Aufderhar’s dental office.  

        Until recently x-rays at the office were taken in the analogue mode which requires the use of film that had to be shielded by lead barriers and developed chemically like photographs before the digital age.  This resulted in lead and chemical waste. The elimination of these toxins is a benefit to the environment and community.

        According to Dr. Aufderhar  the new digital x-ray equipment has many distinct advantages for patients some of them include:

1. Radiation to the patient is reduced by 60-80%
2. The sensor in the patient’s mouth is smaller and more ergonomically comfortable
3. Obtaining a set of x-rays is quicker 
4. It gives greater clarity for more accurate diagnosis and treatment planning

        When asked if this expensive new equipment would raise the cost of dental treatment Dr. Aufderhar said, “Definitely not!”   She continued, “The initial cost is about the same as a new car but that expense will be recovered over years by the savings in staff time and supplies, not increased cost to patients.”     

        “Another benefit,” says Dr. Aufderhar, “is that now, when helpful,  the patient can see the results magnified on the computer screen immediately to better understand and make choices in possible treatment options."

Chris Bangsund, Registered Dental Hygienist,  uses the new third dental suite at Bayview Dental,  in Ron Shively’s routine cleaning.  Ron thought Chris was joking when she asked if he wanted to try the lumbar and shoulder massage in the new chair.  The environmentally friendly digital x-ray is displayed in the background.   Shively moved to Lopez from Olympia less than a year ago when he retired as a computer analyst for Washington State.