Retainers are the last (and easier) step we have to take after we finally take down those big bad braces. Retainers, as their name implies are a softer reinforcement to finally set our newly aligned teeth in their proper position.
Retainer care is just as important as caring for your braces. Here are a few tips to help you take care of your braces:
1. Cleaning is done with brushing - take of your retainers, and after you brush your teeth, brush these next, then rinse with either warm or cold water.
2. Flipping your retainer in your mouth and putting it in your pocket will most likely break it. Replacements take time and are quite expensive, so you’d better avoid these bad habits.
3. You should also not leave your retainers lying around as they can be dropped, damaged or thrown away by accident.
Kodak has been known for imaging technology for a long time, so do are their digital imaging hardware which has revolutionized the way we and our dentist’s see our faces before and after cosmetic dental or restorative surgery. The equipment is so good you can see images that are sharp, down to 2mm’s which is quite a lot of detail. for your dentist this means the sharp images maximizes the use of the x-ray thus lessening the need for repetitive unnecessary exposures.
Kodak has bundled with their equipment, the necessary visualization software that is useful for a specific application such as for the dentist which uses the images for analytical purposes of how the teeth and bone are, to orthodontists who need more detailed images and analytical software allowing them to manipulate the images around to determine the best restorative approach for orthodontic applications. Oral and maxillofacial surgeons have the ability to manipulate the images simulating proposed treatments before they touch the actual patient.
Of your smile that is, this is the benefit of digital imaging technology for using powerful computers running very precise manipulation of the digital images allowing patients to see the end-product well before anything has been done. This type of image manipulation would have been very difficult or even impossible with the 2-D X-rays of days gone past. But with today’s high-tech digital imaging systems that have greatly reduced the amount of time a patient is exposed to radiation as well as lessening the amount of radiation that is used.
Using highly sophisticated imaging equipment and software that allows visualization of the proposed changes that would be done to a patient presenting them in images that is easier to visualize than even the most detailed discussion with your dentist. Today’s 3-D digital imaging systems continue to evolve into better and faster tools for the digital dentist making better smiles and keeping patients well informed for many years to come.
Dental Imaging Technologies, Digital imaging, Smile Design
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Today’s dental practice continues to change at a very fast rate. Many methods that were based on paper and film for almost a hundred years are being changed to its digital counterparts. Computers are in all offices and many offices are using digital radiography, intraoral cameras, digital cameras, image management and practice software and a lot of them have turned to the internet to take on the smallest work like confirming the patient’s appointment and scheduling online. In a nutshell, “paperless” practice has become very realistic and possible in recent years.A closer look at the relatively new technologies revealed that most of them were used in the dental market gradually on a sustained growth level for five to ten years before becoming popular.
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The Dental Caries Detection System is from the Canadian diagnostic device company that reveals a new technology breakthrough which detects and monitors the onset of tooth decay without the need for dental x-rays. It encourages better oral health by reducing the number of invasive and painful procedures. It uses hand held lasers that send out a low-power light to examine tooth surfaces.
The Canary system measures the level of glow (luminescence) and heat released from the tooth when laser light is shone. It interacts differently with healthy teeth than with decayed teeth. A depth profile of the tooth can be created to permit detection of decay as deep as 5mm from the tooth surface and as small as 50 microns in size (20 times smaller than a millimeter) by varying the pulse of the laser beam. With this the dentist is able to identify areas of decay much earlier than with current methods. They are not as sensitive in detecting early decay in areas like enamel surfaces, root surfaces, biting surfaces, between teeth, and around existing fillings.
Image Source:http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2007/08/24/toxic-toothpaste-for-children/
Commercial jingles: it has to be admitted that these tunes are either captivatingly catchy or just too plain strange. Either way, making use of jingles to promote a product is certainly something that will not be done away with in the near future. And clearly, if only in the name of dental care matters alone, these jingles should be continuously used in order to entice people—particularly children, to continue brushing their teeth. Case in point, consider Colgate’s new commercial which, in addition to having a catchy rhythm, also shows unique animation. From fish-like tubes of Colgate to mermaids brushing their teeth underwater, the commercial not only serves to please the eye, it also subliminally implies that the same pleasure and fun can come from the simple act of brushing one’s teeth. Indeed, in addition to the already proposed fruit-flavored toothpastes and creatively-decorated toothbrushes, allowing children to view such commercials and letting them listen to its kid-friendly, catchy tunes will certainly help in making kids see the simple activity of brushing their teeth as an adventure of sorts they shouldn’t miss out on.
In order to have a successful dental implant, the patient must see to it that he or she maintains proper oral hygiene. A good oral hygiene would consist of debris-free teeth, pink gums that do not ache or bleed when brushed and flossed, significant reduction of bad breath. Here are some simple tips to keep your teeth (and your implants too) squeaky clean.
~Have your dentist clean your teeth twice a year.
~Brush twice each day.
~Floss each day.
~Eat the proper food (lots of fruits and vegetables).
~Use fluoride-based dental products.
More tips on Colgate.com
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Have you heard of Endodontists? Endodontist are dentists whose most common procedure is the root-canal therapy. To be called as a professional endodontist, one must have two to three years of training after graduating from a dental school. Endodontics residents usually conduct research to earn a Master’s degree and a specialty certificate. Their specialties include handling root canal therapy, root canal surgery, teeth with narrow and blocked canals or unusual anatomy of the teeth. Endodontist nowadays use advanced technology in their operations. Operating microscopes, ultasonics and digital imaging are just some of their services offered. This also helps the patients to experience less pain.
At Bite Dentalworks, they have something new in laser cavity detection that uses DIAGNOdent technology. This latest innovation uses a simple laser diode in inspecting the teeth. The laser is aimed to one of the healthy enamel tooth surface to get a point of reference reading. Then any other surface that will give a different reading to that of the healthy baseline value, the dentist would determine the possible problem areas. If prevention is better than cure, then early detection will result to precise correction. In addition, x-rays are no longer required and the procedure is pretty much easy and more advantageous.
In the past 10 years or so, modern dental practice has changed tremendously. Almost all dentists are now aware that the new technology is their ticket to practice their profession more competently, economically and will allow devolution of the office. Paper and film-based dental records are now things of the past. Digital radiography, electronic records are now getting popular and in fact through advanced technology, we’re moving toward a paperless or even a chartless practice. To achieve this, there must be practice management software that will do the basic functions followed by an image management software. The operatory design must be enhanced before adding computers and improving the digital system. Lastly, make sure you have data protection utilities.
