Digital Dental X-rays

Digital dental radiographs have less radiation exposure than traditional X-rays and can be taken inside (intraoral) or outside (extraoral) the mouth.

Intraoral X-rays are the most common type of dental X-ray. They provide great detail and are easily magnified. Digital X-rays are used to detect cavities and check the status of developing teeth; they also monitor teeth and bone health.

For more information on digital xrays and other services provided in our office, please call and schedule an appointment with Dr. A. J. Boyajian in Los Angeles, CA.

GALILEOS Dental X Rays Improves Accuracy of Diagnostics

In a previous GALILEOS post (part I), I urged you to remember that by using GALILEOS x-rays we are able to see not only a specific dental condition, but the entire surrounding area as well. This is key to our holistic approach to dentistry, because we cannot correct a problem without considering how it might affect the rest of the mouth (and, thus, the whole head, neck, and so on…). GALILEOS has opened a new doorway to our comprehensive dentistry because we can, in fact, immediately see how one problem area might be affecting another. We can see if an infection has spread, and if so, then how far.

GALILEOS will also be used hand-in-hand with our CEREC technology, which will bring our patients the best maximum-quality holistic care you can find.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

 

GALILEOS 3D Dental X-rays Accuracy of Dental Diagnostics

As a patient, you rely a great deal on your dentist for the best oral and dental health. Nobody wants to be put in the hands of someone who calls himself a dentist but misdiagnoses, mistreats, or malpractices on his patients. That situation is just plain scary! I could rant about the scary thing dentists do with patients that permanently messes up their dental health, but that’s a topic for another day. Today is another day for the GALILEOS.

As I was saying, patients heavily rely on their dentists for proper, thorough, and accurate treatment by their dentist. GALILEOS helps immensely with your dentist’s precision and confidence in your treatment. This technology is particularly beneficial for disease beneath the surface, places where we cannot see with the naked eye… where even x-rays can be hard to decipher. Because the GALILEOS x-rays are 3-D, we are able to see disease as if looking at it through glass. We can see the exact size, direction, progression, etc. of the problem. This takes all the guesswork out of root canals and dental implants. While a skilled, careful dentist can do well enough without 3-D x-rays, the GALILEOS just increases the patient’s safety and security that much more, also enabling the very best possible healing results.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

 

GALILEOS 3D Dental X-rays Dental Diagnostics

From the picture below, you can see a sample of what a GALILEOS x-ray looks like:

What the picture doesn’t show you, however, is the ability to pan through the layers of each image from different angles. You know how CT scans show you multiple pictures of the same brain, only each one illustrates a different layer or “slice”? This is similar, except it would be like putting all the slices together and being able to zoom in and out, focusing on each one individually while still being able to see the surrounding environment. Remember that, because it’s an important point I will touch on later.

On a side note, watching your own 3-D skull on the screen is pretty cool. I hope it is an inspiration to patients. Cavities and other dental problems that you can’t see with the naked eye are easy to ignore, at least until there is discomfort, pain, or your dentist tells you your health (or life) as you know it is seriously threatened. Even then, some refuse to take action. Would this new ability to see inside yourself motivate you to establish healthier habits? You’d be able to see just how far those cavities reach, just how close your teeth are to falling out, just how far that infection has spread, etc. We might even discover problems elsewhere — tumors, for instance — that you would never have known were there until it was too late. Would seeing inside your face, particularly inside your mouth and teeth and surrounding bones, make these problems more of a reality for you, thus changing your mind about lazy oral hygiene?

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

 

The GALILEOS Dental X-Ray Machine

Low-radiation benefits aside, here are a few more practical things patients will find great about GALILEOS:

Comfort! You know how conventional x-rays require the film to be put inside your mouth, sharp corners poking in places you never knew existed? Well, we can kiss that goodbye. The GALILEOS unit is different. It stands up tall, about as tall as a doorway, with an overhanging piece built to encircle one’s head. The height of this piece is adjustable, catering to patients of all heights, seated or standing. It almost resembles an electric can opener… but replace the “opener” part with the head piece.

That imagery probably sounds a little more horrific than I intended. So here’s a picture:

The mouthpiece probably looks a little scary, too, but it’s not. You simply place yourself so that this piece is in the center of your mouth. I think just by looking at it you can tell its comfort is superior to having to clench down on individual pieces of film.

After you have positioned yourself in the right spot, what happens is the top unit circles your head to scan your mouth, jaw, and facial bones. The cone beam x-rays emit the lowest amount of radiation possible, so the hygienist or dentist performing your x-rays won’t be “running for cover.” Then super-cool 3-D images of your teeth and front portion of your skull are put into the computer for you and the dentist to view. We’ll check that out soon!

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

GALILEOS by Sirona

Doctors love their technology and fancy gadgets… in case by now in today’s modern hospital or clinic you couldn’t already tell. That’s why I’m going to share my excitement about my latest and greatest addition to my office.

This week, I am installing GALILEOS by Sirona. Sirona is a dental company developing and manufacturing top-of-the-line technological equipment, imaging systems, and instruments catering to today’s most updated dentists. GALILEOS is a complete 3-D diagnostics low-radiation imaging system. Did you hear the emphasis on “3-D” and “low-radiation”?

First, it may help to understand conventional dental x-ray systems. X-rays are necessary for dental and orthodontic work today. Without x-rays, a lot of guessing — a scary word in the medical field — would be done on delicate and precise procedures, such as dental implants or root canals. You would steer clear away from a dentist who just “guesses” at which direction to drill (or not), right? That is serious trouble. But x-rays allow us to see below the surface without much hassle, which saves a priceless amount of pain, mistakes, and loss.

However, x-rays don’t come without their well-known and feared side effects from exposure to radiation. In each individual’s condition, it is best to be up front with your doctor about whether you are in good enough health to withstand that exposure with little to no problems. Generally, if you are taking good care of yourself — eating well, sleeping well, and getting fresh air, sunshine, and exercise — and not getting x-rays every single week for the rest of your life, you’re at a significantly lower risk of illness caused by radiation. I do believe that exposure should be as minimized as possible, though.

This is why I, the holistic dentist, am thrilled our new system uses lower amounts of radiation. And there’s a bonus: a clearer, more detailed picture — in three dimensions, no less! I’ll cover more details this week, but next time you’re in my office, get ready to see some pretty cool stuff.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

Traumatic Dental Injuries: Root Fractures

The definition of a root fracture is exactly that — a fractured root.

In the tooth, of course.

Root fractures are horizontal cracks near the root of your tooth, occurring beneath the gum line (therefore requiring x-rays to find… when telltale pain and wiggly teeth first bring you to the dentist). The location of the fracture in relation to the ends of the tooth, the tip of the root (the apex) or the tips of the crown (the visible chewing surface), determines the lasting strength and health left in the tooth. The closer the fracture is to the root tip, the better the chances of a successful healing are. But the closer the fracture is to the crown, chances are it will not successfully heal on its own. A splint is also designed for this type of injury, to be worn temporarily as the tooth heals (if, of course, the fracture is minor enough to be left alone). If the pulp inside the tooth is damaged, a root canal may be required to disinfect and seal off the problematic area.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

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Dental Injuries & Treatment

Ouch! This topic may not be so pleasant to visualize. But harm does come to folks’ teeth all too often, maybe because of a car accident, a sports or recreational accident, or some other dreadful mishap. Children are most apt to suffer much damage because of their activity levels and still-developing mouth.

When I say tooth damage, this does not always refer to the visible damage you might see on the surface (the crowns), such as an obviously chipped or broken tooth. A significant amount goes on beneath what can be seen without x-rays or probing about. If an injury causes a tooth to move from its original position, the tooth’s pulp (nerves, blood vessels, etc.), dentin, and the surrounding bone and gums could very well be damaged as well, and that’s where things can get tricky and painful.

We will cover a few kinds of injuries and how they may be fixed over the next few days.

Dr. Boyajian, West Los Angeles

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

XDR Digital Radiography

By reading the information provided on this website, there’s almost no need for me to explain…well, anything! I’ve been using this system for a while now, and it is far superior to any other. The picture is clear and sharp, yet captures the depth of the x-rayed area so thoroughly that it makes it much easier to see what is beneath the surface in your mouth. This increases dental precision and effectiveness.

What’s also great is that all of the files, pictures, x-rays, and records for each patient are stored digitally. No more sorting through gigantic file cabinets or spilling a super-thick folder’s contents all over the ground, mixing up patients’ films and records. As long as you take measures to keep your internet reliable (utilize at least two methods; for example, use cable/DSL as your primary source, and satellite as your backup), this is definitely a great time, money, and space saver.

 

www.dentalwellnessarts.com

http://www.xdr-radiology.com/index.htm