Dentists for Home Dental Care in Your Local Area

Dental X-Rays

Taking X-rays seriously

We do believe the judicious use of dental x-rays is in our patients' best interests. And you deserve to know why.

X-rays aren't just another part of our office routine. We rely, first and foremost, on a clinical examination-that is, we look inside your mouth. Then we ask ourselves, what information do we expect to find with X-rays that will benefit this patient? If there is no good answer, we won't recommend X-rays.

X-rays: What you should know

1. New X-ray equipment reduces the size of the beam, and eliminates "scatter"-photons bouncing around the room.
2. Fast film requires much less exposure time.
3. Lead aprons are almost 100% effective against exposing other arts of your body to radiation.
4. We monitor our equipment faithfully to keep timers precise, everything up to snuff.

We work with X-rays every day-they are our "eyes." There would be a very different kind of dentistry without them.

As a consumer, you can protect yourself, too!

Feel free to ask us why you need an X-ray. Don't insist on it just because "it's time." Let us know when you are having X-rays for medical reasons. If you move, or we refer you to a specialist, ask for your X-rays to be sent to your new doctor.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

Computerized Dental Radiography

These days, computers are really changing the way we live and work. You've probably experienced their impact in your own home. And believe me, technology is also helping raise our dental practice to a new level of safety, accuracy, and comfort.

Keeping up with all these advances is a full-time occupation that's as important as my work at chairside. One of the most promising of these breakthroughs is an improvement on the oldest evaluation technology we have - dental x-rays.

For close to a century, dentists have used x-rays to detect cavities and damage invisible to the eye. We've long been aware of the drawbacks. Though x-ray radiation is slight, many patients find it a cause for concern. And reading the negative requires a skilled, professional eye-which means my patients can't see what I see.

That's why my office uses a Computed Dental Radiography System as an x-ray alternative. A computer enhances a "photo" of your teeth and shows it instantly on a screen. This new system requires 90% less radiation than the old film x-rays, and can magnify the image up to 300 times. It's as easy to read as a snapshot. When I discuss something I see in your mouth, you'll be able to view it right along with me.

This is an exciting time to be a dentist. We're re-thinking and refining virtually every aspect of our dental practice, and I wanted to pass a bit of it along to you.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.