Posted: September 7, 2012
Dental X-Rays have been common practice in dentistry for decades as they are a crucial supplemental tool for any dental care. X-rays are used to expose hidden tooth decay, reveal abscesses, cysts, tumors, impacted teeth and extra teeth. With the development of digital technology, the benefit and safety of dental x-rays has been improved.
A full set of x-rays is usually done at your first visit to the dental office or for patients who need extensive treatment. Follow up x-rays are done every 6-24 months to determine the conditions of fillings, crowns, bridges, and root canals. The dentist will also use x-rays to determine any bone loss from gum disease, tartar build up, find foreign bodies, and see if there is enough bone for a dental implant. As you can see, dental x-rays are a useful tool in any sort of diagnostics and restorative dentistry. In traditional x-rays, radiation exposure was reduced using high speed film, a lead apron, and taking a limited number of shots. Digital x-rays offer an 80% reduction in radiation, are produced instantaneously, and color contrast can be used in the image. These specific benefits come from eliminating the use of both film and chemicals in the process.
Another amazing piece of dental technology The Velscope is a hand-held device that provides dentists and hygienists with an easy-to-integrate adjunctive intra-oral examination system for the early detection of a wide variety of oral diseases, including pre-cancer and cancer. It is a non-invasive oral cancer screening unit that can catch lesions and pre-malignant dysplasias that may be missed by the naked eye. Can also help locate lichen planus, viral/bacterial infections, mucositis, papillomas, candidiasis, inflammations and tumors.
Emitting a safe blue light, the velscope excites the natural fluorophores (emits light) from the surface of the epithelium (top tissue layer). Healthy cells in the mouth begin to glow green, where potential areas of concern appear dark when viewed beside healthy tissue. By having these potential areas of concern lack fluorescence we can get vital information that cannot be acquired any other way.
The Velscope goes even further, being able to have a direct feed into a digital camera to capture photo- documentation and facilitate communication between dentists and specialists. In minutes and with no hassle, a Velscope examination gives dentists a key tool to assessing their patient's overall oral health. When used in combination with traditional oral cancer examination procedures, Velscope technology facilitates the early discovery of oral cancer.
Looking for a dentist in Northwest Calgary? Find out how Evolution Dental meets your needs! Give us a call at 403-208-9965 today.
