Author: adv-admin

X-Rays have many perceptions in the eyes of Americans depending on the use for each type of x-ray. What many Americans seem to fail to understand though is that x-rays are not a one-size-fits-all concept. There are all kinds of x-rays out there from those for medical purposes to those used for dental purposes to those used in the airports. This confusion leads to many questions about dental x-rays.

Traditional x-rays are the type of radiographs that will look at your teeth and gums to get a better view than your dentist can with his/her naked eye. Traditional x-rays are considered a safe procedure in modern dentistry as considerably less radiation is used with modern technology than was used even just a couple decades ago, however, it is still possible that with the other chemicals used to process the film and including human error someone could still be overexposed to radiation more than necessary to get the x-rays done. That can be a bit more dangerous.

Newer technology provides another option called digital x-rays. There are many benefits to these new, digital x-rays provide many perks including:

• Less Radiation: The digital x-rays require a lot less radiation than the traditional x-ray does — about 80% less radiation to be exact.
• Comfort: digital x-rays eliminate the lead vests and the awkward biting on plastic tools in one’s mouth. Instead, you get a small sensor inside your mouth and you bite on the piece to allow a thin computer wire to read the x-rays. The sensor is just moved around the mouth to get various images and you bite on it. Much nicer than those uncomfortable plastic utensils being jammed into your mouth for you to bite onto.
• Quality: The actual x-rays themselves display images in as little as 3 seconds, and they are much easier for patients to take and easier for technicians to read. The pictures remain undistorted and the original images generally hold up quite well. These x-rays often also show decay in a tooth earlier so the problem is found before it gets much more severe.

Most claims for insurance are also easier to make when there are digital x-rays to back up the evidence It’s also much more environmentally friendly not to have to dispose of all the paper and film waste afterward.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”

If you visit your dental hygienist every 6 months for routine cleaning and plaque removal as is recommended by the American Dental Association (ADA) you know that the routine helps keep your teeth from building up any substantial problems with plaque and tartar. This is done to keep the gums and teeth healthy. If how you have severe symptoms of gum disease, however, a procedure called scaling and planning may be needed to help further cleanse the mouth from harmful bacteria.

When is Scaling & Planning Recommended?

Scaling and planning are used to the teeth to prevent periodontal disease from developing. In fact, this procedure is sometimes just simply known as “deep cleaning”. This is considered the “gold standard” to help many patients suffering from a periodontal disease from allowing the disease to get any more advanced according to the Journal of Evidence-Based Dental Practice.

Normally healthy gum tissue is tight around the tooth, and the McCarl Dental Group recommends that healthy gums should be about 1 to 3 millimeters thick. However, bacterial plaque and buildup around the teeth can cause periodontal disease to develop in the deep pockets of the gums. Your dentist may recommend you for scaling and planning as a first treatment to help treat periodontal disease.

Like a Splinter from a Finger:

Scaling and planning will either be done by a hygienist or your dentist. Depending on the severity of your periodontal disease it may take more than one appointment to fully complete the scaling and planning of the entire mouth. It’s comparable to having an irritating splinter removed from a finger. It’s not going to be painful per say, but it’s not a comfortable procedure either. The smoothly rooted gums will regrow themselves and be able to reattach to the teeth again to ensure further plaque avoids getting into the gums in the future.

After the Procedure:

You will need to go to the dentist for a follow-up appointment after the gums heal to check the deep pockets in the gum tissue again. This allows the dentist to ensure that all of the plaque was effectively removed from the gum line and that no further work needs to be done. The good news is that most tissue that was red and irritated will grow back pink and firm. If the gum tissue responds well and returns healthy you may need no further treatment.

However, more advanced periodontal diseases may require more treatment. Sometimes this includes surgical interventions to stop the progressions of bone loss. However, scaling and planning can still help require a less invasive procedure later on and has its place even in the worst cases of periodontal disease.

Periodontal Maintenance:

After any sort of periodontal intervention whether surgical in nature or not your dentist may want to put you on a schedule of maintenance appointments to check the progress of your mouth for some time. Every two to four months is a general schedule, sometimes more often for the most severe cases. These visits will involve routine cleanings and thorough examination of the gum tissue to make sure no periodontal disease is recurring.

Oral Care for Prevention:

To help prevent the disease from recurring in the future it is vital that you follow your dentists’ instructions to keep your gums and teeth healthy. The American Dental Association (ADA) encourages you to brush at least twice a day with toothpaste (with fluoride included), replace toothbrushes when the bristles are worn, floss daily to clean between teeth, use an antimicrobial mouthwash such as Colgate Total Advanced Pro-Shield ®, and do not smoke.

Whatever you call the planning and scaling routine it can help you improve your oral health!

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”

If your tooth is in serious decay or a case where the pulp of the tooth is being compromised sometimes a root canal may be in order. Your dentist will often recommend a root canal as a last resort. This will help clean the tooth out from infections and will help cover the nerves of the tooth over so the pain goes away. Remember that once an adult tooth emerges from the gum line the tooth can only sense heat, cold, etc. thanks to the nerves in the tooth. When the nerve is removed from the tooth it helps take away any pain that is being experienced due to tooth decay. That’s the reason the root canal is removed is to ensure that the pain experienced is no longer an issue.

Root canals are used in the most extreme cases of tooth decay when the decay reaches nerve level but many of the symptoms are pretty clear as to when you will need a root canal to be performed. Root canals need to be performed when you experience severe pain just putting pressure on that tooth or area of the mouth. Tooth pain continues when the hot or cold stimuli is removed. A small, pimple-like bump is present along with the pain on the gums near the area of the sore tooth/teeth. Darkening of the tooth itself. Tenderness or swelling of the gums in the area where the pain occurs.

To perform a full root canal your dentist will take x-ray images to see how badly the tooth is infected before determining what if the tooth is badly infected enough for a full root canal. If it’s determined that a root canal is necessary then you will get a local anesthetic to help avoid pain during the actual procedure. The dentist will make a surgical opening at the crown of the tooth and go in to drain the infected pulp from the tooth to relieve the pain. In some cases, the dentist may have to leave the tooth open until the additional material can be drained then the tooth will be cleaned and resealed. Some cases may require the dentist to put a temporary seal on the tooth while the rest of the material and pulp drain from the tooth.

At your next appointment, which usually will occur within a few days, the canal will be filled with a composite filling after the draining process is complete. A crown will be put on the compromised tooth/teeth to help keep the tooth from getting infected again in the future.

Tooth pain may continue for a few days after the root canal, especially after the local anesthesia wears off. Use products to clean your teeth including a soft-bristled toothbrush that is specially made for sensitive teeth until the sensitivity subsides. If you continue to experience this sensitivity more than a week after the procedure sees your dentist for further evaluation.

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about us visit us here or call us 909-465-1016. The Ramona Dentistry Team “Where Family Comes First”