Digital Bitewing X-rays

July 16th, 2010

Digital bitewing x-rays are an important tool for your dentist. They provide an image of both your upper and lower teeth simultaneously, and may also reveal the any of the following conditions: Decay between the teeth; Worn-out or broken fillings or crowns; Tartar on the tooth roots; Bone loss from periodontal disease; Broken tooth roots;  and Poor alignment of upper and lower teeth.

Question: How safe are digital bitewing x-rays?

Answer: Very safe–a major benefit of digital bitewing x-rays is that the radiation both you and the dental technicians are exposed to is dramatically lower than the already low radiation of the traditional dental x-rays. As much as 80% lower!

Question: I’m due for my 6-month checkup, but I’m pregnant. Can I still go?

Answer: Absolutely. Pregnancy is a critical time to take particular care of your teeth. If dental x-rays cannot be delayed, a lead apron placed over your neck and abdomen will shield your baby from any excess x-ray radiation.

Question: How are digital bitewing x-rays taken?

Answer: Once you are sitting comfortably in your chair, a dental technician will place a heavy lead apron over your body and neck to protect you from any excess radiation. Everyone present in the room will have to either wear a lead apron or stand behind a protective shield.

The dental technician then carefully positions a small a small sensor inside your mouth so that it lines up properly to get the digital bitewing x-ray images of your upper and lower teeth at the same time.

It’s that simple! Digital bitewing x-rays are quickly becoming the standard form of dental x-rays today because of how easy and comfortable they to use. The better views of your teeth and potential dental conditions provided by digital bitewing x-rays let your dentist advise just the right treatment or overall health management plan for you.

We look forward to seeing you soon!!

Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
713-795-5905

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Dental Fear

July 13th, 2010

Dental fear is an aversion to dental treatment attributable to many causes.  Some are based on personal experiences.  Others are based upon an inflated sense of danger caused by stories told the patient by other people.

  • Friends and family can be some of the worst sources of dental fear.  There is always someone in your circle of friends with some horror story about dental neglect or malpractice.
  • You may feel embarrassed over the current condition of your teeth.  It may have been years since you have had them cleaned and you may fear the dentist is going to scold you for this.
  • Taking television and movies seriously and literally can make you afraid of the dentist.
  • Being in a dental chair may make you feel helpless and out of control.
  • You may feel like today’s dentistry, with all of its barrier treatment precautions such as gloves and masks, lacks bedside manner.
  • You may have bad memories from childhood.  Perhaps you overheard careless comments made by a dentist or hygienist that your mind has since distorted and inflated.
  • Your dental fear may be a subset of an overall fear of the unknown.

Thankfully, your dental fear can be overcome.  Fear is a reaction of the instinctive mind which all animals have.  You have a more highly evolved mind, which means you can control your fear if you make a conscious choice to take the right steps.

Notice we said, take steps, and not just make some mystical mental decision.  There has to be a new set of behaviors implemented in order for the mind which was previously terrified to now feel safe and in control.

The first thing you need to do is to talk to your dentist about your control.  Obviously, you cannot control the procedure itself, but you can control your awareness of the procedure

  1. Ask your dentist to explain any and all procedures he or she will be performing.  Knowing what to expect will go a long way toward helping you overcome your dental fear.
  2. Read up on dentistry.  Understanding some of the new treatments and technology will help you overcome your fear of the unknown.
  3. Never think that a true professional will embarrass you or scold you.  If you had not made mistakes with your teeth, you would not need a dentist, and we would not have a profession.
  4. Learn relaxation techniques that can keep you calm in the dental chair.  There are many meditation, deep breathing, and affirmation-based methods that work to this effect.  Find one that works for you.
  5. Ask about sedation dentistry.  Sedation dentistry uses anesthetic to create a relaxed and pain-free experience for you.

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Houston Dentist Explains Gum & Periodontal Disease Treatment

July 12th, 2010

Question: My lower gum line is receding to where my lower teeth roots are showing. I am afraid of my lower teeth coming loose and falling out. I have no dental insurance, and would like to know how I may repair this. When I did have insurance I was informed that I had a gum disease. I am not sure what other information you may need. I would like to take care of this so my teeth do not fall out.

Answer: Thanks for the question – this is a common problem and concern that we see.  Some of lower anterior soft tissue recession is hereditary and some is a result of muscular habits, trauma, or periodontal disease.  We look at several things to try to determine if treatment is indicated:

  • Soft tissue present – it is desirable to have a band of attached gingiva supporting these front teeth, and when this is thin or absent, it often leads to us recommending soft tissue surgery to create or enhance this tough supporting tissue
  • Recession – the more root surface that is exposed, the more at risk these front teeth are
  • Advanced wear – when these teeth are very worn and chipped, they are more at risk, and a protective nightguard or sleep study might be recommended
  • Loose teeth – the more fragile the supporting bone, the more possibility that these teeth will actually be loose.  This all needs to be evaluated by a dentist so that you can understand your situation.

It is important for you to have a comprehensive exam and evaluation for you to understand your situation and needs.  That is where you need to begin.  Give us a call or use our Contact Us Form.

Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale Brant, DDS
(713) 795-5905

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Email us If You Think You Suffer from Dental Phobia

July 6th, 2010

The Medical Center Dental group wants to help people who suffer from dental phobia, dental anxiety, and dental fear.  Today we will be discussing the most serious of these conditions- dental phobia.

This debilitating condition affects between 30 and 40 million people in the United States.

A phobia is more than a simple fear, or even a feeling of anxiety.

It is a feeling of fear that is so intense it can paralyze a person’s rational mind and trigger an instinctive flight response. 

People who suffer from dental phobia will do anything, and rationalize any problem, to avoid seeking dental treatment.

This avoidance behavior is rooted in one or more causes in the patient’s personal history or psychological makeup.  Sometimes painful experiences during childhood, or even a lack of bedside manner on the part of the dentist, can leave lingering bad memories that develop into a phobic condition.

Some people feel helpless and out of control when they are in a dental chair, and the dentist has their mouth open wide, and they cannot move or see what is being done to them.  For people who need to feel in control, this can be terrifying.

Some people also feel that medical practices in general are too impersonal.  The measures that dentists and other medical professionals have to take in sterilizing equipment and protecting themselves from contagions (such as latex gloves, shields, and masks) has made many people regard dentistry and medicine in general as a cold, unfeeling science.

So how do you know if you have dental phobia?

Be honest with yourself when asking yourself some very basic questions. 

Are you nervous when you go to the dentist?
Do you feel apprehensive about lying back in a chair and letting someone work in your mouth?
Do you feel annoyed in general that you have to go in for regular checkups, or even for a toothache?

Answering yes to any of these questions does NOT mean you have dental phobia.  However, if any of these basic apprehensions we all have to some degree or the other turn into AVOIDANCE TO THE POINT OF MEDICAL DETRIMENT, then you are definitely suffering from phobia.

This can affect far more than the health of your teeth.  You will find it hard to deal with the pain than many neglected dental problems can soon begin to inflict on your mouth.  Additionally, if you lose any teeth, you will have more problems because you will not want to smile or talk much with people.

Gum disease can also infect the blood and affect organs throughout the entire body, including the heart and lungs. 

If you are suffering from dental phobia, please email us and we will respond to you personally.  We are committed to being not only a provider of superior dental treatment, but also a genuine source of warmth and empathy our community can count on.

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