Monday, July 27, 2009

Ask The Dentist
The Cosmetic Dentistry Center in the Houston Medical Center Dental Group offers the full range of cosmetic dentistry procedures and general dentistry practices. Every patient is treated as a genuinely unique individual with his or her own set of unique and specific needs. We like to say that no two smiles are exactly alike, so when you come to our office, you can be confident we provide your smile with a restorative or cosmetic solution that is specifically created just for you.
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My gum was feeling quite hard. I looked in the mirror to see what was wrong. I noticed that one particular area was red, with what looks like an underlying yellow pimple. Is it possible that I have a gumboil or an abscess?

I have a dental checkup in 2 weeks time, but in the meantime, can I buy anything from the pharmacy for it?

It’s a little uncomfortable but not painful, as yet!!

Thanks,
Lesley

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Hi, Lesley.

You are probably describing either an abscessed tooth that has not yet hurt you or a fractured root. There are several possible treatments, depending on exactly what is going on. You might make it the 2 weeks before your appointment, but you might want to be seen sooner, as this can flare up overnight at any time and be painful. He will be placing you on antibiotics sometime in the course of treating the problem, but you should probably be seen first.

Chuck Campbell, DDS
Dale J. Brant, DDS713-795-5905

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posted by Dental Expert at 8:55 AM 0 Comments


Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Intraoral Cameras

Intraoral cameras are fantastic tools used by cosmetic dentists to examine a variety of unhealthy tooth and gum conditions. These cameras are light years ahead of previous dental mirrors that were once used to examine cavities, gum disease, and dental abfraction. They provide us with a high degree of diagnostic accuracy, and they help patients make better decisions for themselves by letting them see what the dentist sees.

Before intraoral cameras were developed, people would try to diagnose themselves whenever they felt pain in their teeth or gums. This did little more than increase anxiety, because even with a bright light and a good mirror, the problems that are visible convey little meaning to people without advanced dental training. For example, if a person saw blood around his or her gums, or what appears to be a crack in his or her teeth, panic ensued. They would go straight to the dentist, who would then employ special mirrors and lights to examine the mouth closely.

The problem with this method was that it does not allow patients to see their own mouths in any amount of detail. If a dentist then recommends a procedure that may involve multiple office visits or finances people feel uncomfortable investing, patients may hesitate before authorizing treatment. There is much to be said about the old saying: seeing is believing. When people confront the unknown, they typically draw back in fear. When the unknown becomes known to them, however, they realize there is really nothing to fear. When patients can see clearly the problems in their own teeth and gums, and have the dentist patiently explain how these problems can be painlessly and cost-effectively fixed, they gain a new confidence, and they find new resources to fund their own health and well-being. If they do not, we have a number of programs that can assist patients in paying for the services we perform.

This has often proven true when we discovered that older, silver-mercury amalgam fillings in teeth are no longer working, or they have fallen out. We immediately recommend cosmetic dental bonding as a replacement for these fillings. However, many people hesitate in this economy to spend the money on this service until they see the actual holes in their teeth and the impending dangers of further decay that will inevitably result if the tooth is neglected. The intraoral camera shows them in full color and high-resolution detail a magnified, completely accurate image of the current condition of each and every tooth with a failed filling. This is normally all it takes to convince people that dental bonding is nothing to put off if a filling falls out.

The optical portion of the intraoral camera resides at the end of a very long, thin shaped and sized much like a pen. The dentist can move it anywhere in the mouth without hurting the patient. The instrument then sends a signal through a digital feed that is interpreted and displayed on large, high-resolution color monitor. Minor fractures can be magnified to great detail. Fillings that are on the verge of falling out can be closely examined. Gum disease can be examined in thorough detail, and its type and severity accurately diagnosed. What is even better about the intraoral camera is that it allows the patient to participate in this examination every step of the way.

This allows the fears of the patient to be calmed when they arise, and it also allows for all options on the table to be discussed from a more informed perspective. Strategies for making procedures comfortable and painless, along with procedures done with advanced technology such as the periodontal laser, can all be considered and explored from both a treatment perspective and the perspective of financial resources.

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posted by Dental Expert at 5:27 PM 1 Comments