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A full-mouth series of x-rays is the first step in a thorough dental examination. Your dentist take this series of x-rays so we can find:...
Injuries to the mouth and face are the number-one sports trauma, and a dental injury is not only painful and costly; it's also permanent. Fortunately, many mouth injuries can be prevented by wearing an athletic mouth protector—also called a mouthguar...
Will a shot hurt my child when my dentist fills her tooth?It really depends on your child. Some children can't stand a simple dental cleaning, while others have abscessed teeth extracted or root canals performed without the slightest discomfort. To m...
Bite wing x-rays are the most common x-rays taken in dentistry. Your dentist uses them to:...
Why is it important for my children to be seen by a dentist every six months? Children are growing and changing so fast that each of their six-month checkups is essentially a new-patient examination. Teeth are being lost, new ones are growing in, bones ar...
From time to time, you probably have questions about the dental health of your child.What about baby teeth?What do I do in an emergency?Does my child need a filling?How often should we go to the dentist?...
The diagnoses of periodontal disease and cavities are two important parts of a dental examination. Since you may have periodontal disease, yet have none of the symptoms, your dentist will perform a thorough examination using x-rays and a periodontal prob...
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Nervous about going to the dentist? Here's some good news: Modern dentistry can be pain-free! But there are some steps you must take to ensure that you and your dentist are on the same page regarding pain control. By working together, you and your dentist...
A digital X-ray (radiography) system can shoot a picture of your teeth, then almost immediately show it to you on a computer monitor while you are in the dental chair.You no longer have to sit there for fifteen minutes and wait for X-ray film to develop.....
Disclosing tablets are made of a harmless vegetable dye that stains plaque bright red. The main cause of cavities and periodontal disease is the accumulation of plaque. Plaque is the sticky film of food and bacteria that forms constantly on your teeth. I...
The greatest breakthrough in preventive dentistry in the last fifty years has been the use of fluoride. Almost all water naturally contains some fluoride. About three-fourths of American cities add additional fluoride to the water supply for the preventi...
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"Well, Dave, your old fillings are definitely not doing the job. In fact many of them have failed and are letting decay reach your teeth. I think you should consider having them replaced." If your dentist tells you this, you may find yourself wondering w...
As you age, certain things are inevitable. You don't move as quickly as you once did. Your hair gets gray and your skin wrinkles. And it used to be that you lost your teeth and got dentures. Not so anymore. Advances in cosmetic and preventive dentistry...
Not too long ago, a dentist had the first and the last word about a patient's dental treatment. Well, the dental patient has turned into a savvy dental consumer who wants to be part of any treatment decision. And dentists have had to become patient educat...
No matter how comfortable, gentle, modern, supportive or reassuring a dental care team may be, some people are still a nervous wreck when they need dental treatment. Sound a bit like you? Then nitrous oxide—also called "laughing gas"—may be just...
Does the sound of a dental handpiece (you may know it as a "drill") cause a white-knuckle, cold-sweat reaction in you? Do you avoid going to the dentist, even for routine exams, because you're afraid a cavity may be found, again bringing to mind the dread...
The discomfort of a dental shot is caused primarily by the pressure of the anesthetic. By controlling the pressure at which the anesthetic is delivered, a computerized injection system (called The Wand) greatly relieves this discomfort. Results are encou...
A panographic x-ray gives your dentist a panoramic view of your mouth. It provides valuable information about:...
Pediatric dentists are well aware that the language used during a dental visit can either relax a child or propel her into panic mode. After all, how many kids you know would welcome hearing the words "shot" or "injection" when they're sitting in the dent...
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Scents that conjure up the image of a field of wildflowers or a freshly baked apple pie before a dental procedure could reduce your anxiety level. And while smelling the real thing may not be possible in a dental office, essential fragrance oils that dupl...
Are sealants really helpful for teeth? Sealants are very effective on permanent back teeth. Their effectiveness depends on how well they fill the very narrow, deep grooves of the sides and chewing surfaces of permanent teeth. They do not coat the entire...
Sealants are a clear or white plastic that are placed in the grooves of the biting surfaces of back teeth. Back teeth have deep grooves and pits that are very difficult to keep clean. Plaque, which is a nearly invisible film of bacteria and food, collect...
Are space maintainers really necessary? Yes. Often when a baby tooth is lost prematurely, the teeth behind the empty space will move and tip. This movement crowds the teeth and causes misalignment that may later have to be straightened through prolonged...
The reason for using nitrous oxide ("laughing gas") is for its calming effect. Since it doesn't numb the teeth, anesthetic is still necessary. Nitrous oxide just relaxes you. You will breathe nitrous oxide in through a small mask that covers your nose. I...
Whitening your teeth is one of the easiest things that can be done to brighten up your smile and improve your appearance. Studies have shown that increasing numbers of people are keeping their natural teeth, thanks to improved hygiene and increased preven...
I don't want any X-rays taken of my of children. They're not really necessary, are they? A dental exam isn't complete without X-rays, since they show structures and disease processes that can't be seen with the naked eye. If you're concerned about radiat...
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