What You Need To Know About Dental X-Rays From Avon Dental

Dental X-Rays, What you need to know from the Avon Dental Group

Dental radiographs, which are commonly called x-rays, are extremely essential, preventative, diagnostic tools that will provide very valuable information that is not visible during a regular dental exam. Dentists and dental hygienists will use this information to safely and accurately detect any type of hidden dental abnormalities and to come up with an accurate plan of treatment. Without the x-rays, certain problem areas can go undetected for years.

Dental x-rays…What can they reveal?

• Any type of bone loss, abscessed teeth, or cysts.
• Cancerous and non-cancerous tumors.
• Decay between the teeth.
• Abnormalities in development of the teeth.
• Poor tooth and root positions.
• Problems inside of a tooth or problems below the gum line.

Detecting and treating many various dental problems at an early point can actually save you time, lots of money, and much unnecessary discomfort, and of course, it can save your teeth!

Dental x-rays…Are they safe?

There is natural radiation in our environment, and we are all exposed to it all of the time.  The amount of radiation exposure from a series of full mouth x-rays is equal to the amount of radiation a person receives in a single day from natural radiation sources.

Dental x-rays produce such a low level of radiation that they are considered to be completely safe. Dentists take necessary precautions to limit the patient’s exposure to radiation when taking these dental x-rays. These precautions include the using of a lead apron, which shields the patient and to protect their body from the radiation, and also using modern, fast film that cuts down the exposure time of each x-ray.

Dental x-rays…Should be taken how often?

The need for dental x-rays depends on each patient’s individual dental health needs. The dentist and dental hygienist will recommend x-rays, only when they are needed, and based on the review of your medical and dental history, dental exam, signs and symptoms of possible problems, age, and risk for any diseases.

A full mouth series of dental x-rays is recommended for all new patients, and this full mouth series is usually good for three to five years. Bite-wing x-rays, which are x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together, are only taken at re-call, or check-up visits, and are recommended once or twice a year to detect any new possible dental problems.

Digital X-Rays

Digital radiography, or a digital x-ray, is the very latest dental technology, and it is used to take dental x-rays. The technique of digital x-rays uses an electronic sensor, instead of x-ray film, which captures and stores this digital image on a computer. This image can be instantly viewed and enlarged helping the dentist and dental hygienist to immediately detect any possible problems much easier. Digital x-rays reduce the radiation by a whopping 80-90% compared to the already low exposure of traditional dental x-rays.

Dental x-rays are certainly essential, and are a great preventative and diagnostic tool that will provide much valuable information, which is not visible during a regular dental exam.  Dentists and dental hygienists will use this information to safely and accurately detect hidden dental abnormalities and to help them complete an accurate treatment plan.  Without the use of x-rays, many problems can go undetected.

For more infromation contact us at 860-673-0451 we look forward to see you.

Dr. Solof receives Fellowship Award

Dr. Gregory J. Solof, DDS, earned his Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry (FAGD) at the AGD’s 57th Annual Meeting and Exhibits in Baltimore, MD, on July 11, 2009.

The FAGD is one of the few post-graduate designations available to general dentists.  It requires the dentist to complete over 500 hours of continuing education in various disciplines and to pass a rigorous examination.

Welcome to Dr. Jones

Avon Dental Group is pleased to announce the arrival of our newest associate, Dr. Derek W. Jones, DMD.  Dr. Jones is originally from Rhode Island and is a graduate of UCONN School of Dentistry.  Dr. Jones completed a one year residency at St. Mary’s Hospital before moving to New Jersey, where he has been practicing for the last year.

Dr. Jones is excited to be coming back to New England and joining Avon Dental Group.  He will be working Tuesday thru Saturday each week and is accepting new patients of all ages.

Farewell From Dr. Weiss

It seems like yesterday that I opened a small office in Avon to practice dentistry.  Actually it’s forty-one wonderful years.  I have loved these years and have been fortunate to see this practice prosper and grow into Avon Dental Group.  I have always cherished the people who selected me as their dentist and tried my best to treat them as family, with love, respect, and skill.  I had a goal for each and every patient – to preserve their teeth for a lifetime and to have these teeth look and feel their best.

As of December 31, 2008, I am retiring from the private clinical practice of dentistry and from Avon Dental Group.  However, I still want to be certain that my goals for each of you continue to be met.  The dentists who are my partners are superb.  They have been taking care of my dental health and doing all of my dentistry since Avon Dental Group was founded.  I have the greatest confidence in them and if you choose, can personally direct you to one of them.

I would like to meet with any of my patients during these last months to ensure that your dental care continues on uninterrupted.  Additionally, if there is any unfinished work that you would like me to do, now is the time.  Most of all, however, I would like to thank you in person for making my years in dental practice so enjoyable and fulfilling.

Sincerely,

Robert M. Weiss, DDS

Avon Dental Group Receives Exclusive ACE™ Certification in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Periodontal Disease

The doctors and staff of Avon Dental Group recently received ARESTIN^® Certified Expert (ACE^™) certification after completing comprehensive training on the diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease. The exclusive ACE^™ certification is important because periodontal disease is the most common chronic bacterial infection in adults, affecting 35.7 million Americans, and is the leading cause of adult tooth loss.  In addition, the Surgeon General has issued a warning regarding the possible relationship between periodontal disease and a variety of medical conditions, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis. ARESTIN^® (minocycline hydrochloride) Microspheres, 1 mg is a locally administered antibiotic (LAA) manufactured by OraPharma, Inc. Clinical studies have proven that ARESTIN^® used as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) is more effective than SRP alone in eliminating periodontal pathogens. SRP is a manual procedure that is performed by a dentist or registered dental hygienist, whereby bacterial pathogens residing in the plaque and tartar are removed from below the gum line while smoothing the tooth’s root surfaces to promote healing and prevent plaque from again taking hold.  During SRP, many dentists prescribe or administer an LAA to treat the periodontal infection and promote healing. One such LAA is OraPharma’s ARESTIN^®.  ARESTIN^® is an effective antibiotic that kills the bacteria that cause periodontal disease. In order to earn ACE^™ certification, the doctors and hygienists of ADG were trained and tested in the following areas: accurate diagnosis of periodontal disease, effective treatment protocol, accurate insurance coding, the benefits of using LAAs, staff and patient education, encouraging patient compliance, patient monitoring, and the possible systemic health risks of untreated periodontal disease.

Give Kids A Smile Day

The Doctors and Staff of Avon Dental Group are proud to be participants in the Give Kids A Smile Program.  The following information is from the ADA:

On Friday, February 1, 2008, the nation’s dentists will provide free oral health care services to thousands of low-income children across the country. The ADA’s sixth annual Give Kids A Smile® national children’s dental access program, during National Children’s Dental Health Month, will enhance the oral health of large numbers of needy children. Give Kids A Smile activities also highlight for policy makers the ongoing challenges that low-income and disabled children face in accessing dental care.

For more information, go to http://www.ada.org/public/events/gkas.asp