Diagnostic - Exams and X-rays

You’ve heard of this stuff. It gets mentioned in just about every toothpaste commercial on television. It’s a film, made up of food and bacteria, that builds up on your teeth. Plaque is forming all the time and can harden into “tartar” in as little as 24 hours. Even the most dedicated brushers and flossers aren’t likely to get all the plaque and tartar off their teeth every day, especially hardened tartar. 

As for the bacteria in plaque, that causes tooth decay. It basically eats away at the surface of your teeth. If we catch a cavity early, while it’s small, fixing it is easy. But you don’t have to ignore a cavity long before it starts growing. Eventually, it can open up the inner wall of the tooth, exposing the sensitive tissue and nerves of the tooth pulp; that leads to a lot of pain and gives infection a large area in which to spread. 

You’ve probably heard this term on mouthwash commercials. If you have gingivitis, you have inflamed gums. It’s caused, for the most part, by the build-up of tartar. Even if you’re a dedicated brusher and flosser, getting all of the plaque off your teeth isn’t likely, so you’re bound to have some tartar build up over time. Gingivitis causes swelling and bleeding of the gums and, if not treated, can lead to more serious periodontal infections that cause receding gums, bone loss, and even tooth loss.

Checking your fillings during a regular dental exam gives us an opportunity to discover any small cracks or gaps that may develop over time. Those openings can allow bacteria into the cavity, creating more decay that can find its way deep into the tooth, possibly leading to the need for root canal treatment and a crown.

This isn’t just a problem for children in need of braces. Adult teeth can shift too. Poorly-aligned teeth can add extra complexity to existing jaw problems, such as pain and/or soreness of the jaw joint, difficulty opening and closing your mouth, and even earaches.

The National Council of Radiographic Protection requires thyroid shielding for all children and they highly recommend it for all adults. Studies show that the use of thyroid collars can reduce exposure levels by over 30%. (1)

State-of-the-art XCP (Extension Cone Paralleling) aiming devices ensure accurate and reproducible x-rays every time, thereby reducing the need for retakes. (2)

Increasing the film speed or using digital radiography contributes to reducing exposure. F speed film requires 20% to 50% less exposure time than E or D speed film, respectively. (4) When digital images are made the dose reduction ranges from 0% to 50% of the exposure required for F speed film. (5)