Monday 26 January 2015

Do I Really Need X-Rays?

X-Rays are an important part of your regular check-ups. These images provide Dr. Thomm with valuable information about your teeth that might otherwise not be visible. X-Rays can be used to diagnose: tooth decay, bone loss, cysts, abscesses, cancerous & non-cancerous tumors, developmental abnormalities, poor root positioning and other hidden problems that can occur inside a tooth or below your gum line.

X-Rays can also be utilized to help educate you on the treatment that Dr. Thomm recommends. Images can be enlarged, lightened and darkened to help you see and understand what’s happening inside your mouth. When combined with Intra-Oral Camera images, Dr. Thomm can effectively show you exactly where a problem area resides and recommend the appropriate treatment.

Another great benefit is that Dr. Thomm uses only digital radiography in her office. The use of digital X-Rays has reduced the level of radiation by 80-90 per cent when compared to traditional x-rays. To put this in perspective, the radiation from 2 digital x-rays is equivalent to spending approximately 30 minutes outside in the sun. In other words, a person would need to have 10,000 x-rays taken in 1 year to reach the maximum allowable dose of radiation.

X-Rays are an important component of your overall oral health. To take advantage of this latest technology, contact our office to schedule your appointment today with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.

Saturday 10 January 2015

Can consuming red wine prevent cavities?

Have you seen news stories declaring the cavity fighting powers of red wine? Think it seems too good to be true?

You’re right to be skeptical. Despite recent stories, it turns out that drinking red wine hasn’t been shown to be good for your teeth. The stories were based on a study in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry which found that red wine with or without alcohol had no effect on the growth of S. mutans, the bacteria that causes cavities. What the researchers actually reported was that red wine and dealcoholized red wine were effective in limiting growth of F. nucleatum and S. oralis—two bacteria that are closely associated with gum disease.

So, does this mean red wine may be good for gum health? Maybe. If you hold it in your mouth for two minutes every seven hours for seven days like the researchers did. For now, the ADA recommends you stick to brushing for two minutes twice a day and flossing daily for good dental health.

For more tips on how to prevent cavities, please contact our office to schedule your appointment with Dr.Jennifer Thomm at Great Lakes Dental.