“I was taken into the examining room almost immediately after arriving for my appointment. The staff greeted me like an old friend and that made me feel good.” (5 stars) by Hazel (January 11, 2014)
Tag: Natural Dentist Associates
Thanks Dr. Kimberly Baer for keeping my smile healthy and bright.
My overall health is much better after removal of the multiple mercury fillings.
Thanks Dr. Kimberly Baer for keeping my smile healthy and bright. My overall health is much better after removal of the multiple mercury fillings. You’re truly the best.
Sue Celeste is a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate in Bethesda Maryland.
My smile looks great!
I had a terrible dental experience a few years ago, and therefore, put off going to the dentist. What a mistake. I was in need of some fillings and I was also missing a tooth. Dr Baer recommended a dental implant. Dr. Baer explained to me that teeth like to touch one another and since I was a missing a tooth, that eventually all of my teeth would start to shift to compensate for the space in my gum line. I did not like the idea of my teeth shifting (after years of braces). My smile looks great! – Emma Banks
Do I really need to get my teeth X-rayed at the Dentist?
Do I really need to get my teeth X-rayed at the Dentist? (What if I’m pregnant?)
Yes! But let us reassure you that we only take X-rays when necessary.
X-rays reveal issues that we simply can’t perceive with the naked eye. This is very important in the prevention of dental problems. The alternative of having a mouth of infected teeth is far riskier, health wise, than the supposed risk of radiation from a dentist’s X-ray machine.
At our practice, we use digital X-ray imaging. For what it’s worth, these machines emit only a tenth of the radiation given off by earlier generations of X-ray machines. To put it in perspective: You get more radiation from carrying a cell phone around in your pocket all day.
One interesting misperception that we sometimes hear is that pregnant women shouldn’t get an X-ray. Again, we don’t take X-rays except when necessary, and we care deeply about our patients’ health, but—a mother’s mouthful of infected teeth is far riskier for the health of her baby than the exposure of an X-ray machine. Studies have shown a connection between oral infections and low birth rate and premature birth.
This issue is even addressed on the American Pregnancy Association website, by the way, so you don’t have to just take our word on this:
“Preventive dental work while pregnant is essential to avoid oral infections such as gum disease, which has been linked to preterm birth…
“No single diagnostic x-ray has a radiation dose significant enough to cause adverse effects in a developing embryo or fetus.”
The site suggests that expecting mothers should perhaps wait until after the child is born to do cosmetic procedures, such as tooth whitening. We would tend to agree with that recommendation.
Can I trust my dentist? How do I know if I really need the work?
Can I trust my dentist? How do I know if I really need the work?
Dentists hold a position of trust with their patients; dentistry, as a profession, is bound by a code of ethics.
That said, dentists are people, too, and professional opinions in this field may vary as widely as in other fields.
Some dentists will inevitably favor an aggressive approach; others will work as conservatively as possible. Most will tend to favor the methods and approaches that were drilled into them, so to speak, in dental school. Some like to try new and cutting-edge approaches, others stick to the tried-and-true. Adherents to both approaches will tell you that they’re right.
A funny fact—A study published by the British Dental Journal in 2014 found that opinions on how one should best brush one’s teeth vary widely between dentists and textbooks and toothbrush manufacturers. “Unacceptably inconsistent,” concluded the study, about this variation. Sort of embarrassing, but it does illustrate the point that there can be disagreement on even the most commonplace of issues.
At the end of the day, however, we’re dealing with issues that can be seen. When you’ve got questions, ask to take a look at your chart. If something doesn’t make sense to you, ask us to explain it again. If that doesn’t work, try getting a second opinion from a dentist in rockville.
It’s worth mentioning, also, that there’s rarely only one way to fix an issue. Whenever possible, we’ll explain the different possible approaches. If we’re suggesting a more expensive option, it’s always because we think it’ll be more effective, or cost-effective, in the long run.