Dental technology at Hite Family Dentistry
Advanced Tools Support Precise Planning, Comfortable Care, and Efficient In-house Restorations
Our technology includes advanced imaging, digital impressions, CAD/CAM, and in-house 3-D printing. These tools help us identify concerns early, plan care carefully, and create many restorations and appliances in our office, including CEREC same-day crowns. You can expect a more comfortable, efficient process with clear next steps.
Great dentistry depends on great tools. At Hite Family Dentistry, we have built our Edwardsville, IL, office around technology that helps us see more, work faster, and keep you comfortable from start to finish. Most of what your smile needs happens right here, under one roof, so you spend less time waiting on outside labs and more time enjoying the results.
Better tools also mean earlier answers. Detailed 3-D imaging shows us problems long before they become painful, and digital scanning replaces the putty trays patients dread. Dr. Hite’s background in dental lab work shapes how we use every piece of equipment, with one goal in mind: care you can feel confident about, visit after visit.
- See exactly what we see with high-definition intraoral photos
- Skip the messy putty with comfortable digital scanning
- Leave with your permanent crown the same day
CEREC Same-Day Crowns
Our CEREC system designs, mills, and places crowns, inlays, onlays, and veneers in a single appointment. We scan your tooth digitally, shape the restoration on screen, and mill it from a solid ceramic block right here in the office. No temporary crown, no outside lab, and no second visit. You walk out with a finished tooth that matches the ones beside it.
Cone Beam 3-D Imaging (CBCT)
Our cone beam scanner captures a three-dimensional view of your teeth, nerves, jawbone, and sinuses in one quick pass. This shows us what flat x-rays cannot, which matters most when we plan dental implants, root canal treatment, or full-arch restoration. Precise images mean safer placement, fewer surprises during surgery, and a treatment plan built around your actual anatomy.
Digital X-Rays
Digital x-rays give us clear, detailed images in seconds while exposing you to far less radiation than traditional film. We use them at routine exams and before fillings, crowns, and implants to catch decay between teeth, bone loss, and infection early. Comparing images over the years also shows us small changes while they are still simple to treat.
Intraoral Cameras
A small camera lets us take high-definition photos of individual teeth and gums, then show them on the screen in front of you. Seeing the crack, the worn filling, or the inflamed tissue for yourself makes any recommendation easier to understand. You become part of the conversation about your care instead of waiting on a verdict.
Digital Impressions
We capture precise 3-D models of your teeth with a small handheld scanner, so there is no tray of putty and nothing to gag on. The scan takes a few minutes and is often more accurate than a traditional mold. Those digital files feed straight into our CEREC and 3-D printing equipment, which is how crowns, bridges, and appliances fit well the first time.
Exocad Design Software
Exocad is the design software our dentists and in-house lab technician use to build your restoration on screen before anything is made. We refine shape, bite, and contours in fine detail, whether the plan calls for a single crown, a set of veneers, a denture, or a complex implant-supported restoration. Designing digitally reduces errors, improves fit, and shortens your time in the chair.
Laser Dentistry
Dr. Hite is certified in soft-tissue laser treatment and uses it to reshape uneven gum lines and correct a gummy smile without scalpels or sutures. The laser seals tissue as it works, which means very little bleeding, faster healing, and results you can see the same day. Most patients are surprised by how comfortable the whole process feels.
In-House 3-D Printing
Our 3-D printer produces surgical guides, dentures, partials, flippers, smile trials, whitening trays, and nightguards directly from your digital scans. Printing on site removes the shipping delays that come with outside labs, so appliances reach you sooner and adjustments happen the same week rather than the following month. Everything comes out matched to your mouth rather than an average one.
Rotary Endodontics
Root canal treatment has changed. We use electric-powered rotary instruments to clean and shape the canals inside an infected tooth far more smoothly than hand files allow. Your appointment takes less time, feels more comfortable, and gives your natural tooth a better chance of staying put for decades. We finish by protecting it with a same-day CEREC crown.
Nitrous Oxide
Nitrous oxide, often called laughing gas, flows through a small mask over your nose and takes effect within minutes. You stay awake and able to talk with us, simply calmer and less aware of the sounds and sensations around you. It is safe for patients of every age, and the effects clear quickly, so you can head back to your day afterward.
TVs in Every Treatment Room
Every treatment room has a TV, because a good distraction does real work. Pick a show or a movie and let the appointment happen around you, whether you are here for a cleaning or a longer restorative visit. Small comforts like this one are part of why patients who avoided dental care for years feel at ease with us.
Modern Dentistry, All Under One Roof
From 3-D imaging to same-day crowns, your care stays with us in Edwardsville.
Meet Our Doctors
Experienced Dentists Who Genuinely Love What They Do
At Hite Family Dentistry, we pair serious clinical skill with a warm, easygoing atmosphere. Our doctors focus on comfortable, patient-first care, with special attention to anyone who feels anxious about visiting the dentist.
DMD
Dr. Hite brings a hands-on, detail-focused approach shaped by his early years in dental lab work. With advanced training in implants, endodontics, and soft-tissue laser dentistry, he loves using technology like same-day crowns and 3D printing to help you eat comfortably and smile with confidence. He’s a perfectionist with a good sense of humor.
Practicing since 2005, Dr. Kniffin has a special heart for patients who’ve avoided the dentist for years. She takes real pride in helping anxious patients complete treatment comfortably, often using sedation to ease the process. Inspired by her mother’s long medical career, she’s driven daily by the difference she can make in your life.
A 2024 graduate of SIU School of Dental Medicine, Dr. Blickhan brings a well-rounded background in biological sciences to her care. Her greatest passion is helping patients move past dental anxiety, turning nervous first visits into genuine confidence. A natural problem-solver, she pays close attention to the details that make your experience better.
Ready to Meet Your Dentist?
Our team takes the time to listen, plan carefully, and treat you like family from day one.
Before and After Results
Natural Results That Build Confidence
From small refinements to full-mouth restoration, these results show what careful planning and years of hands-on work can do. The smiles look balanced and natural, and the patients behind them left with stronger chewing, easier meals, and real confidence in how they look.
Before
After
After
After
Your Transformation Starts Here
Schedule an appointment and start your smile journey today.
Same Day
Emergency Appointments
98%
Satisfaction Rate
40+
Years Combined Experience
500+
Implants Placed
3
Sedation Options
4.8
Average Rating
Come Visit Us
Your Neighborhood Dental Home in Edwardsville
We’re conveniently located on Lewis Road in the heart of Edwardsville, just off Route 157 and easy to reach from home, work, or school. Whether you’re near SIUE, downtown, or the surrounding neighborhoods, you’ll find friendly, personalized care close by.
Find Us Easily and Plan Your Next Visit Today
Technology That Supports Your Confidence
Feel Confident in Care Shaped by Precise Imaging and Comfortable Digital Tools
- Clearer insight into your care
- Comfort without messy molds
- Restorations made in one appointment
