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Posts for: November, 2015
One of the most widely used forms of dental imaging is the bitewing x-ray. So called because of the shape of the device that holds the exposable film a patient clenches between their back teeth, the bitewing x-ray is an effective means for detecting the earliest stages of tooth decay.
These early signs are small lesions on a tooth surface caused by mineral loss in the enamel. While we can identify them on front teeth through visual examination or bright lighting, they’re nearly impossible to see on the biting surfaces of back teeth. The bitewing x-ray solves this problem.
During the procedure, a narrow beam of x-rays is directed at the back teeth area. Since X-rays can transmit through solid matter, they pass through the teeth and gums to expose the film attached to the bitewing assembly.
X-rays pass through matter at different rates depending on the density of the tissue — a slower rate for harder tissues like teeth and bone and a faster rate for soft tissues like the gums. As a result, x-rays through teeth expose less of the film and appear as a lighter image than the gums. This difference is so precise even a tooth’s softer dentin appears slighter darker than its harder outer enamel.
This precision helps us identify decay lesions. Because the lesions on the enamel are less dense than the normal enamel, they’ll appear as dark spots. By detecting them at this stage we have a better chance for reversing the effects of decay or at least minimizing damage that’s already occurred.
Because x-rays emit radiation, there’s a natural concern about over-exposure and we go to great lengths to reduce it. Children may undergo a bitewing x-ray twice a year for developing teeth, while adults with healthy teeth are typically x-rayed just once a year. Advances in digital film and other technology have also helped lower the exposure rate.
Today’s standard 4-film bitewing x-ray produces about four days worth of what we receive on average from normal background radiation, so the health risk is quite negligible. The benefit, on the other hand, is much greater — the early detection of tooth decay could ultimately save a tooth.
If you would like more information on the use of bitewing x-rays in dental care, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.
Enjoy all the advantages that getting dentures can offer you and your oral health.
No one wants to deal with tooth loss but there are many dental issues that can destroy smiles. Fortunately, your Marietta, GA dentist Dr. 
James Hutson has options for giving you back that beautiful smile. Find out how dentures can improve your oral health and get your smile back.
How can I benefit from dentures?
It might seem like a silly question, but it’s important to know just how advantageous it can be to get dentures. Anyone who is dealing with severe or total tooth loss knows the value of having all of your teeth. Here are some of the smile benefits you can reap when you decide to get dentures in Marietta:
Find speaking easier again
With tooth loss it’s both difficult to feel confident speaking to those around you and difficult to speak properly. But through dentures you can get a full smile and find that speech is restored. Sure, it may take a few weeks to get used to your new teeth, but you’ll find over time that dentures make it easier to communicate with those you love.
Rediscover your favorite foods
You may have found yourself straying from eating dinner out with friends or enjoying your favorite meals simply because it’s more difficult to eat foods without all your teeth. But just as dentures can restore your speech they can also make chewing easier. With your dentures, find renewed confidence in ordering all your favorite foods the next time you go out.
Improve your self-esteem
An imperfect smile can certainly make you feel less than confident about your appearance. After all, a smile is often one of the first things people notice. Imagine the boost to your self-esteem that having a full smile will afford you.
Promote a healthier smile
Tooth loss also poses other issues for your smile including an altered facial structure. Wearing dentures can help your cheeks maintain their fullness.
If you are ready to say goodbye to tooth loss for good, then it’s time to schedule a consultation with your dentist in Marietta. Call our office today and let us know you are interested in getting dentures.
When the multi-platinum recording artist, songwriter and TV personality Jason Derulo was recently asked about his ideal woman, his answer covered a remarkably broad spectrum. "There’s no specific thing," he said, "so I think it’s unfair to say what my ‘type’ is." But it turns out that there is one thing the So You Think You Can Dance judge considers essential: A beautiful smile.
"I’m not into messy teeth," Derulo said. "If the grill has spaces and different colors, it’s not my vibe."
As it turns out, he may be on to something: A number of surveys have indicated that a bright, healthy smile is often the first thing people notice when meeting someone new. Yet many are reluctant to open up that big grin because they aren’t satisfied with the way their teeth look. If you’re one of them, consider this: Modern cosmetic dentistry offers a variety of ways to improve your smile — and it may be easier and more affordable than you think.
For example, if your smile isn’t as bright as you would like it to be, teeth whitening is an effective and economical way to lighten it up. If you opt for in-office treatments, you can expect a lightening effect of up to 10 shades in a single one-hour treatment! Or, you can achieve the same effect in a week or two with a take-home kit we can custom-make for you. Either way, you’ll be safe and comfortable being treated under the supervision of a dental professional — and the results can be expected to last for up to two years, or perhaps more.
If your teeth have minor spacing irregularities, small chips or cracks, it may be possible to repair them in a single office visit via cosmetic bonding. In this process, a liquid composite resin is applied to the teeth and cured (hardened) with a special light. This high-tech material, which comes in colors to match your teeth, can be built up in layers and shaped with dental instruments to create a pleasing, natural effect.
If your smile needs more than just a touch-up, dental veneers may be the answer. These wafer-thin coverings, placed right on top of your natural teeth, can be made in a variety of shapes and colors — from a natural pearly luster to a brilliant "Hollywood white." Custom-made veneers typically involve the removal of a few millimeters of tooth enamel, making them a permanent — and irreversible — treatment. However, by making teeth look more even, closing up spaces and providing dazzling whiteness, veneers just might give you the smile you’ve always wanted.
If you would like more information about cosmetic dental treatments, please call our office to arrange a consultation. You can learn more in the Dear Doctor magazine article “Cosmetic Dentistry — A Time for Change.”
Dentist - Marietta
707 Whitlock Ave. SW,
Suite B22 Marietta, GA 30064
(770) 424-7525
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