Bitewing
We use bitewing X-rays to find cavities between your teeth, tartar on the roots, worn-out fillings, receding bone levels caused by periodontal disease, and other conditions we cannot find with a clinical exam alone. Without Xrays, we wouldn't be able to detect these problems until they had become severe and caused serious damage...
Complete Series
A complete set of X-rays is the first step in a thorough dental examination. We use the X-rays to find cavities between your teeth, tartar on the roots, worn-out fillings, receding bone levels caused by periodontal disease, and other conditions we cannot find with a clinical exam alone. Without X-rays, we wouldn't be able to detect these problems until they had become severe and caused serious damage...
HIPAA
HIPAA stands for the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. This act consists of a set of standards that were created by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It was signed into law on August 21, 1996 with an effective date of April 14, 2003...
Infection Control
In our office, we take pride in adhering to the highest standards for infection control...
Nitrous Oxide
We administer nitrous oxide, also known as "laughing gas," to our patients for its calming effect. Although it does a great job of decreasing a patient's perception of discomfort, we'll still use a local anesthetic to numb the area we're treating. We won't use nitrous oxide if you're pregnant, have an inner ear infection, or suffer from asthma...
Oral Cancer Exam
Each year, oral cancer strikes approximately 35 thousand Americans. Of all the major cancers, oral cancer has the worst 5-year survival rate. Only about 50 percent of those diagnosed with oral cancer will survive more than 5 years. In fact, oral cancer kills nearly 9 thousand people each year...
Panographic
We'll take a panaographic X-ray when we need to have a complete picture of your mouth. Because they produce an image of your entire mouth and jaw, panographic X-rays can detect receding bone levels (a sign of periodontal disease), abscesses, impacted wisdom teeth, sinus and jaw problems, tooth trauma, and other serious conditions that we would otherwise not be able to detect...
Rubber Dam
A rubber dam is a small, stretchable sheet of rubber that we use to isolate the teeth we are working on and keep them dry. The rubber dam also keeps debris from falling to the back of your throat...
Sensitive Teeth
Teeth are often sensitive because the dentin layer of the tooth has become exposed. The dentin is the middle layer of the tooth. Above the gums, the dentin layer is normally covered by an outer layer, called the enamel, and, on the roots, cementum. Dentin contains millions of tiny tubes that extend from the nerves at the center of the tooth to the outer layer. When the dentin is exposed, these tubes are left open. Any stimulation at the surface of the dentin is transmitted through the tubes to the nerves, causing pain...
© 2010 Robert Hawke, DDS