Hello Everyone! Its been a long time since I have written a post. My apologies, Dream Dental Group has been growing so fast, its been difficult finding the time to write a quality blog post.  Thank you to all of our  wonderful patients who have been so loyal to us and have also been kind enough to refer their family and friends. As you know, we are ALWAYS accepting new patients.  The topic of discussion today is dental x-rays.

Dental x-rays or radiographs are a necessary part of the diagnostic process we use to detect cavities, bone loss as a result of gum disease and pathologies or abnormalities in the structures of the mouth and jaws that cannot be seen with the naked eye.  They are an essential part of the diagnostic process and are considered very safe. In fact, patients who do not get a radiographic examination of their teeth and surrounding structures regularly are put at an increased risk for harmful conditions to go unnoticed. These conditions may cause pain, infection, tooth loss or much worse.

How often should x-rays be taken? This depends on your present oral health, your age, your risk for disease, and any signs and symptoms of oral disease you may be experiencing. It is considered the “standard of care” in dentistry for your dentist to obtain a full mouth set of x-rays at least every 5 years for adults and then “check-up” x-rays every 1 to 2 years depending on the patient’s overall oral health.  Some situations warrant more frequent x-rays than others. For example, children may need x-rays more often than adults because their teeth and jaws are still developing, and also because their teeth are more prone to decay than adults.

Overall, x-rays are prescribed for each patient based on their individual age, health and needs. If a patient is new to Dream Dental Group, the x-rays taken at their previous dentist can often be transfered to us. This helps in reducing the amount of new x-rays that need to be taken.

Patients often express concern about the amount of radiation exposure when dental x-rays are taken. Please be aware that every precaution is taken to minimize the amount of radiation exposure to the patient. At Dream Dental Group, we utilize digital x-rays. This is done through the use of a digital panoramic machine and small digital x-ray sensors instead of film. Through the use of digital x-rays we are able to reduce the amount of radiation exposure by up to 80%.  Our digital panoramic machine, the PlanMeca ProONE, can take an x-ray of the whole jaw in one image. I am proud to say this particular machine emits the lowest amount of radiation than any other machine of its kind currently on the market.

One must always remember that we are exposed to radiation on a daily basis and the amount of radiation exposure from dental x-rays is a tiny fraction of the overall exposure we get from things like microwaves,  cellular phones, computers,  the sun, the earth, and atmospheric radiation.  The benefit of an early diagnosis and treatment from x-ray findings usually outweigh the negative of a very small amount of radiation.

If you have any other questions about the risks, benefits and alternatives to dental x-rays please feel free to ask. We love educating our patients, and future patients. Especially those from our surrounding communities such as Novi, White Lake, Commerce Township, and Walled Lake.  I hope to see you soon!

248-363-7121

There is a big misconception that porcelain veneers are just for celebrities. That due to price, they are reserved for the rich and famous. Let me start by saying that this can’t be further from the truth.  Porcelain veneers are a wonderful, conservative treatment that can be very affordable with the right treatment plan and patient financing.

Just what are veneers? When teeth have imperfections such as rotations, discoloration and spaces, to name a few, a very thin layer of enamel can be removed and “veneered” to correct these cosmetic problems.  They are a conservative treatment that can make you smile! Here are some recent examples from our practice.

If you are curious as to what can be done to improve your smile, please give us a call. We serve patients from several communities, including Commerce Twp, Walled Lake, Novi, White Lake, Highland, West Bloomfield and Milford.

248-363-7121

Dream Dental Group

9600 Commerce Rd. Commerce Twp, MI 48382

As a dentist, my back and spine are constantly put to the test. I am constantly contorting into different positions to get the best view of the tooth or area of the mouth on which I am working, so I can provide my patients with the absolute best result. After thinking about this aspect of my job, a thought came to me.  I bet a lot of my patients have jobs that also put strain on their back and spine. So I consulted my good neighbor, Dr. Rich Sadowski, and he gave me the following helpful stretches that anyone can do at their desk in order to release tension and regain alertness without resorting to a caffeine or sugar fix.

1. Shoulder Stretch
   Lift your shoulders up to your ears until you feel a slight tension in your neck and shoulders. Hold for 3-5 seconds and relax shoulders. Do this 2-3 times at first sign of shoulder or neck tension.
2. Neck Stretch
   Tilt your head to one side, trying to touch your ear to your shoulder. Hold the stretch for 10-20 seconds and then return to normal. Repeat the stretch on the other side.
3. Spine Stretch
   Raise arms over head. Stretch your right hand to the ceiling and hold for 3-5 seconds, while you exhale. Relax. Repeat with the left hand.
4. Lower Back Stretch
   Place your hands on the edge of your desk and roll your chair back. Lower your head between your outstretched arms and arch your back while you exhale. Inhale, raise your head and arch your back in the other direction.

Dr. Sadowski can be found at Commerce Chiropractic Clinic at 8101 Commerce Rd. Suite B  Commerce Twp, MI 48382 or you can give him a call at 248-363-4999. He is the only chiropractor in southeast Michiggan certified in low force instrument adjusting.

Please give us your feedback on this post. I am always looking for ways to improve my patients oral and overall health.

Patrick J. Qatsha, DDS

P.S. If you have a friend or relative who might benefit from the many services offered at Dream Dental Group, please give us a call. 248-363-7121

If you ask just about anyone who wears dentures, they will tell you that they are unhappy with them. The reason for this is complete dentures become increasingly loose over time.

Why does this happen?

The jaw bone is meant to hold in the teeth, if the teeth are missing, the jaw bone slowly shrinks or resorbs over time.  If there is no jaw bone for your denture to suction to, then they simply float around in your mouth making it very difficult to eat  and speak. The longer you are without natural teeth, the worse it gets.

Have no fear, there is help!

Due to the advances in implant therapy, dentures can now be held in place very securely, making life much easier for denture wearers. It is very simple, once the implants are placed and stable (see my “Dental Implants in Commerce Township,” post) an attachment called an abutment is placed on the implant. Then, another attachment called a locator is placed inside of the denture. The locator looks like a tiny button. The two attachments line up when the denture is placed in the mouth and they snap together. Much like the snaps on a jacket!

A huge advantage to this technique, is your existing denture can often still be used. You do not always have to have a new denture made, which often saves on cost.  The number of implants required depends on the patient and is determined by the dentist placing the implants.  At Dream Dental Group, we have a Board Certified Periodontist who happens to be faculty at U of D Mercy Dental school placing all of our implants.

I have personally found this service to be one of the most rewarding in my practice. When patient’s call me to say how happy they are because they can now eat an apple or corn on the cob without the stress and worry of their denture falling out, it makes me so happy that I could make such a huge difference.

Dream Dental Group offers free implant consultations with our Board Certified Periodontist Dr. Leyvee Cabanilla Jacobs. Give us a call, you are never too old to enjoy eating!

248-363-7121

Denture Picture from http://www.smileglenellyn.com/gallery/album/implants/