IN West Mifflin Winter 2017 | Page 28

INDUSTRY INSIGHT DENTISTRY SPONSORED CONTENT PAIN OR PREVENTION WHAT’S YOUR SIGNAL? O uch! The dreaded toothache. Better call the dentist for an emergency visit. In your exam earlier that same year, the tooth diagnosed as needing some treatment, that you decided to wait on, now needs to be treated because it broke and you need double the work for double the price. In the past, unfortunately, pain was the indicator we used to determine that a tooth needed treatment. Today, with modern technology, intraoral photos, and digital x-rays, we can help you PREVENT pain by diagnosing potential problems before they get worse. WHAT IS THE MAIN DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FILM AND DIGITAL X-RAYS? Digital x-rays are far superior in the quality, accuracy, and ability to enhance. Films of the past were captured by larger amounts of radiation, where today’s modern equipment emits a far less amount. WHAT IS AN INTRAORAL CAMERA? It is a camera that is used in the mouth to see what the doctor sees. The assistant or doctor takes pictures of each tooth to diagnosis thoroughly. It shows the patient, in color, the visible decay, fractures, breaks, or other unfortunate breakdown of the tooth. WHAT CAN WE DO WHEN WE ARE AT THE DENTIST’S OFFICE? We can actively look at the photos and x-rays on the screen in front of us, and we can listen, and ask questions to understand what the diagnosis is from the doctor. We can actively participate in the preventive treatment recommended by our doctor so we can avoid the pain later and save money. 26 724.942.0940 TO ADVERTISE | West Mifflin WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF PREVENTIVE TREATMENT VS. WAITING FOR THE PAIN? 1. It is healthy for you! Any decay lingering in your mouth can cause bad breath and a potential health problem. 2. You keep your teeth longer! Studies show that pulling our teeth sooner than later lessens our years. Also we can enjoy eating, drinking, and smiling with confi dence! 3. It’s fi nancially smart. Think of a very small leak in your roof. If you let it go until it gets worse, it would cost thousands more and cause trouble in more areas of your home. Likewise, if you let small issues go with your teeth, it will cost you thousands more and aff ect a lot more than just the tooth needing treatment.