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Patients Benefit from Our Intra-Oral Camera

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Dentist in Chatham

Woodlawn Dentist - Intra-oral CameraOur patients love using the intra-oral camera as part of their dental care experience. We are proud to offer a wide variety of dental health services for patients of all ages. As part of our ongoing dedication to providing effective dentistry and comfortable care, our expert dentist has integrated many advanced technologies. One of our patients’ favorites is the intra-oral camera.

The intra-oral camera is a very small device, about the size and shape of a pen. It is used to record images of your teeth, gums, mouth, and tongue from inside your mouth. Due to its small size and sleek design, it is comfortable, easy to use, and able to view a wide range of angles. The intra-oral camera is a safe and effective tool that can be used with patients of every age.

The intra-oral camera device is connected to a full color display screen and to a computer. Due to its small size and sleek shape, the intra-oral camera can view and record detailed images of your teeth from angles not visible to the naked eye. What’s more, the images it captures can be immediately viewed on the display screen by both you and our dentist.

Our experienced doctor finds the ability to immediately view digital images of your teeth to be a highly valuable resource for both diagnosis and treatment planning. With the intra-oral camera’s digital imagery, we can instantly view your teeth with much greater clarity than other methods allow. This can be crucial in ensuring early detection of serious dental health issues like periodontal disease or tooth decay. Early detection is a key factor in ensuring positive treatment outcomes.

What our patients most appreciate is that, by utilizing the viewing feature of the intra-oral camera, we can show you exactly what dental health issues we find. This has led to improved communication between our dental team and our patients. In addition, this visual medium assists our patients with greater understanding of the reasons and goals for our treatment recommendations.

Each time the intra-oral camera is used, a new disposable cover is employed, to ensure your health and safety at all times. After your exam, images captured by the intra-oral camera may be digitally stored, printed out, or deleted, depending on the individual need.

For more information about the intra-oral camera or to schedule an appointment, contact our office.

What to Expect at Your Child’s Dental Appointment

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Chatham Dentist

Dentist Woodlawn What to ExpectThe American Dental Association recommends all patients to schedule routine six-month exams. This is particularly important for growing children.

At your visit, we will screen your child’s mouth for tooth decay and gum disease. Regular professional dental cleanings are essential for a healthy mouth. During your child’s dental cleaning, we will gently remove any buildup of plaque or tartar to help prevent tooth decay.

During this visit, our team will spend time discussing proper brushing technique and oral hygiene with your child. Depending on your child’s age, we may also teach them about the correct use of floss and mouthwash. Our team members are friendly, patient, and great with kids, and will answer every question.

We may recommend fluoride be applied to the teeth as part of your child’s treatment. Topical fluoride is used to strengthen enamel and make teeth more resistant to tooth decay.

Sealants are highly effective in preventing tooth decay and cavities on your molars and premolars. These areas are the most susceptible to cavities due to the anatomized grooves.

Typically, children get sealants on their permanent molars and premolars as soon as these teeth come in. These sealants can protect the teeth through the cavity-prone years of ages 6 to 14. However, adults without decay or fillings in their molars can also benefit from sealants.

The process of applying sealants is easy and fast. The application steps are as follows:

  • Your child’s teeth are thoroughly cleaned
  • The teeth are dried
  • A liquid solution is put on the chewing surfaces of the teeth
  • The solution is cured using a special curing light

Sealants act as a barrier and protect the enamel from plaque and acids. They may last for several years before a reapplication is needed. As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay.

Sealants are not a substitute for brushing your teeth. It is important to maintain proper oral hygiene and keep up with professional dental cleanings. Also, sealants do not protect between the teeth, so it is essential to continue to floss daily.

Without proper dental care, children are susceptible to oral decay. Healthy smiles should not stop at our dental office. Our experienced and caring team will educate you and your child on how to make good food choices and how to properly brush and floss at home.

Our expert dentist and knowledgeable team have the experience and qualifications to care for your child’s teeth, gums and mouth throughout various stages of childhood. For more information or to request an appointment, contact our office today.

The Periodontal Disease – Diabetes Connection

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Dentist in Chatham

Dentist Woodlawn - Periodontal Disease and DiabetesNearly 30 million Americans suffer from diabetes. Almost 65 million Americans have periodontal disease. Recent studies have suggested that there is a two-way connection between diabetes and periodontal (gum) disease. Patients with gum disease have increased risk of other diabetic complications and patients with diabetes are more prone to developing gum disease.

Gum disease causes inflammation in the body, which can make controlling blood sugar more difficult for diabetic patients. Severe periodontal disease has even been shown to increase blood sugar, making it more difficult to maintain or regain good blood sugar control. In addition, when blood sugar is elevated, patients experience increased risks of additional diabetic complications.

Patients with diabetes are more prone to infections in general. This is especially true for patients whose diabetes is not well controlled. Diabetic patients with poor blood sugar control are more likely to develop gum disease than patients whose diabetes is well controlled. Less controlled diabetic patients will generally have a more severe case of gum disease and are likely to lose more teeth from gum disease, as well.

Besides blood sugar control, diabetes includes a number of other health complications. Diabetic patients are more prone to other oral health issues, such as dry mouth or thrush (a fungal infection of the mouth). Reduced saliva production or infection in the mouth can increase risks of developing periodontal disease as well.

Smoking can escalate these risks even further. Studies have shown that smokers are 5 times more likely than non-smokers to develop gum disease, overall. Diabetic smokers age 45 or older have been found to be 20 times more likely to develop severe gum disease.

Fortunately, when diabetes and blood sugar are well-controlled, the risks of periodontal disease and other oral health complications are no different than for patients without diabetes. If you are diabetic, it is important to work with your doctor to keep your blood sugar under control as much as possible to avoid these added health complications.

Be sure to let us know if you have diabetes and how well-controlled it is. We may need to discuss your medication schedule when planning treatments or to postpone a treatment if your blood sugar is not controlled. Keep in mind that healing from treatment can take longer for diabetic patients, even when blood sugar is well-controlled.

If you have questions or concerns about your risk of periodontal disease with diabetes, contact our office for more information.